Pranav Nair
Rio Ferdinand compares Mason Greenwood to Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney
According to Manchester Evening News, Rio Ferdinand has compared Manchester United hotshot Mason Greenwood to club legend Wayne Rooney following his performance against Leeds United.
The 19-year-old started up front for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side and did a good job against the Leeds backline. He caused Marcelo Bielsa’s side numerous problems and also got on the scoresheet.
His outing on the night was enough to convince Ferdinand who has high hopes for the young Englishman. Just to be mentioned in the same breath as Rooney shows the expectations Ferdinand has for the Greenwood.
While Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba stole the hunger against Leeds, Greenwood’s performances garnered him high praise from Graeme Souness. Ferdinand agrees with the former Liverpool star and believes the youngster now has the build of a Premier League footballer.
“You can see with Mason Greenwood he has built into that frame of being a first team player and at the weekend, Graeme Souness was right, he was one of the stand-out players.”
While the youngster’s ability was never in question, his body was not yet up to shape to compete at the highest level. He appears to have built himself up in the summer and the impact is now showing. Greenwood was able to hold his own against Leeds and Ferdinand believes it is a step in the right direction.
“It has just been waiting to happen in the first team and his body is catching up.”
High standards!
While Rooney was certainly further along with his development at a similar age, Greenwood is a brilliant prospect who could aim for the sky. Ferdinand has appraised the youngster’s ability to score goals at any level, a trait that he continues to showcase regularly.
“He knows what he needs to do, but Wayne Rooney when he came into the first team was a man already.”
Rooney is United’s all-time leading goalscorer and there is a long way to go before Greenwood is even within sight of him. Comparisons at this point in time are purely academic and will hopefully not pile on undue pressure on the youngster.
Ferdinand must, however, certainly know what he is talking about. Having played alongside Rooney, the former defender is best placed as any to make that assessment.
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Greenwood is certainly a special player who could go a long way in his career. He has the right ability and mentality to succeed at the highest level- as shown by Solskjaer’s constant faith in fielding him for the senior side- and could evolve into a regular first XI player in the years to come.
Who knows, 10 years from now, he could very well be inching towards Rooney’s tally of 253 goals for United.
