Tanvir Juneja
YES, HE DOES!
It isn’t new for Manchester United’s old fox Wayne Rooney to be hit with constant conjecture when all the important club-talk comes down to him as the fulcrum of a decision. He has endured a terrific yet turbulent career at United in the sense that there has always been questions leading up to a certain performance role or criteria Rooney would or would not be able to befit. Most of the times, he has shunned his critics positively by almost always coming out as a winner in whatever responsibility Old Trafford has seen in him to fulfill.
From the long-reigned years of SAF – who made Rooney a household name in the world by acquiring him from Everton in 2004 for £20m at a time when he was just 18 years old, to being coached in trying times under Moyes and Van Gaal, the evolution of Wayne Rooney as a player and a leader is as significant as the fans’ hope of seeing him as their ultimate hero every time the club has been a little shaky. His loyalty has been unparalleled and that is why he deserves to be the Red Devils’ skipper today.
As the questions never seem to end regarding Rooney’s eternal role in the United squad, the 30-year old is often bombarded with doubts over his playing position, fitness/agility, lack of form, etc. as Manchester United strives to revive their Championship pursuits by employing the est in the business off late. Under new manager, Jose Mourinho, his role has been further scrutinized since the arrival of Ibrahimovic, Pogba and Mkhitaryan. All of whom have been United’s huge signings of the 2016 summer window bolstering attacking options for Mourinho.
Rooney still faces the debate over the number 10 role, whether or not he tops Mata and Mkhitaryan in that role among other reports that totally write off Rooney as a striker when there are players like Zlatan, Rashford and Martial in Mourinho’s arsenal. Anyhow, the leading argument seems to be of that about leadership at Manchester United? Rooney has overcome all of these speculations and fan theories to show that he has more services to offer to his club where he has spent more than 12 years; becoming its highest-goal scorer of all-time, than being just a captain to a club which has millions of eyes behind it.
When the news of Rooney’s appointment as captain came out whilst Van Gaal was in-charge, the media outlets had their usual meltdowns as seeing him wear the armband was more of a surprise cause not a long ago his starting spot was in jeopardy and still remains to be. Well, as for the ‘special one’ Jose Mourinho has made sure that none but Rooney gets to carry the leadership baton as United run for nothing short of a top finish at the Premier league season this time round. Initially, the fans didn’t take Rooney’s captaincy seriously, I mean, for real fan reasons, who were querying over Rooney’s individual performances per se.
But, as for the management, everyone unanimously stands for the figurehead that Rooney is at Old Trafford after the departure of long-gone faces of Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra and Giggs. Moreover, he happens to be the most valued, highest-paid and one if the best they have ever seen. So, if there was conjecture regarding a more senior person wearing that piece of fabric, it would be redundant.
With his club records, personal stats, style of play and measuring the impact/influence of his presence for the club is considered, it seems to me that Rooney’s shirt might even emerge to be the most highly-respected, long-standing Man United star jersey since his association has only risen from the time he started. He has more of a successful relationship with the club than say a Ronaldo or a Beckham, if we talk of modern-day heroes of Manchester United, Rooney is remembered more often when the club has seen the best of days.
The crunch factor simply would be his ability as a leader. If you drop Wayne Rooney from the team, you remove a leader, a player with a charismatic personality, a match-winner and having the main ingredient the Red Devil DNA in him – he is priceless as a captain.
WHY HE DESERVES TO BE CAPTAIN?
- His Experience
- His Dressing Room Antics
- His Goal-Scoring Record
- He is a Role-Model For Younger Stars
- His Fan-Following
- His Brand Personality at United
These are the reasons that bill Wayne Rooney as a worthy United skipper and still a force to be reckoned with while out on the field. Esp. when coupled with the likes of Mourinho, Ibrahimovic and Pogba, he can be a dish best served hot to his opponents. His outfit looks sharp and with the way things are going, his season looks mouth-watering indeed.
