Wayne Rooney names only two players Man Utd should keep

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has claimed that “massive changes” in terms of player turnover is the only way the club can begin to improve its fortunes on the pitch.

United are facing their worst ever Premier League season by some distance, on course for a lowest league finish since being relegated 51 years ago. Their only remaining chance of silverware is the Europa League, which is also the only realistic way they can qualify for Europe in 2025/26.

Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is targeting the Premier League title by 2028but Rooney, who won 12 major trophies and scored a club record 253 goals during his 13 years at Old Trafford, doesn’t see any way back without up to 15 players in the current squad being replaced.

Speaking on the latest episode of Stick to Football on The Overlap network, Rooney described the existing group of players as looking “lost” and “scared”.

Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo are the only players the former captain said he would actually keep: “Bruno is the one who keeps producing, he annoys you at times but keeps producing. I’d keep Bruno and Mainoo.

“They need massive changes to the squad, I think 10-15 players need to leave the club. Obviously, they can’t do that, but there is a mentality there where no one is taking responsibility (in the squad),” Rooney explained.

The 39-year-old also suggested that there isn’t enough consequence for bad results.

“There is a culture at the club where it’s too easy to lose games and the players come out and say, ‘Onto the next one,’ and all that rubbish. Just show some character and fight on the pitch,” he said.

“It’s bad watching, it hurts. Being from Liverpool but spending so many years at United, I want the team to do well, I’ve got my kids in the academy, and it hurts watching them.”

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