Wayne Rooney: Man Utd forward 'most under-appreciated player in England'
Last updated on .From the section Football
Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney is the most under-appreciated player in English football, says former Wales international Robbie Savage.
Rooney is the record goal-scorer for both United and England.
But the 31-year-old has started only 22 games this season and has hinted he may have to leave Old Trafford this summer in order to ensure first-team football.
"He gets hammered and yet he is Manchester United's and England's top scorer," Savage told BBC Radio 5 live.
"He is a professional, his work ethic is very good, you can see his temperament is still the same. When he gets a decision against him, he goes berserk. That is the same old Wayne Rooney.
"The bottom line is that age and not playing regular games is catching up with him. He is not the player he was. But he is the most under-appreciated footballer we have seen in English football."
'I want to play football'
Rooney has been at Manchester United for 13 years, since joining from Everton for £27m in August 2004.
He has won five Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup, three League Cups and the Club World Cup during his time at Old Trafford.
This season he surpassed Bobby Charlton to become United's outright leading scorer, with his tally currently standing at 252.
He has also broken Charlton's England scoring record and has 53 goals for his country from 119 caps.
On Wednesday, he spoke about his future, saying: "Would I like to stay? I've been at this club 13 years. Of course, I want to play football."
The forward continues to be linked with a move to China, while Everton and the United States have been suggested as other potential destinations.
United face Celta Vigo on Thursday in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final, holding a 1-0 lead over the Spanish side.
Comments
Join the conversation
Rooney and Ronaldo had so much potential when they were 17.
Where they are now speaks volumes.
Rooney is a failure.
His English goals were against the likes of San Marino, not in the Finals of a major tournament
.
He's overrated by weak managers, not underrated by the fans.
Certainly not this season.......
not the two with LVG..
not the one with Moyes....
not Fergies last one ...when he dropped him...and was about to get rid of him
That's 5 poor seasons.....!!
.AND....our expensive .....BBC expert pundits......haven't even noticed.
After the ...England v Iceland... defeat....when Rooney gave us the most abject..abysmal England Captains performance in living memory..
The "Match of the Day"... pundits....tore into England's players & management...but incredibly....never even mentioned Rooney.
They are always the same.
Look how many world cups and European championships he's won them!!
Rooney has ALWAYS failed on the big stage.
I'm sure most englanders would rather he chose jeelabd Ireland.
Swap most appreciated with most overrated and this guy is maybe right.
"NOTHING like your home fans boo ya"!!
This guy is clearly overrated and NOBODY appreciates him...
Combined with his foul mouthed attitude on the field and lack of personality off the field, have left him as a washed up has been, instead of a United God like Scholls or Giggs.