OLD TRAFFORD TOUGH PERIOD

Messi, Ronaldo wouldn't solve Man Utd problems - Rooney

Rooney doesn't think Solskjaer's side will compete for the Premier League title next season.

In Summary

• Rooney expects a "tricky" summer of business for Solskjaer, who has been linked with several players.

• Solskjaer, who succeeded Jose Mourinho as United boss - initially on an interim basis - in December, has already begun to reshape his squad.

Chicago Fire midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger (left) and D.C. United forward Wayne Rooney walk off the pitch together after their match at Audi Field in Washington DC on May 29, 2019.
Chicago Fire midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger (left) and D.C. United forward Wayne Rooney walk off the pitch together after their match at Audi Field in Washington DC on May 29, 2019.
Image: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Signing global stars such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos would not solve the problems at Manchester United, says former captain Wayne Rooney.

Rooney, who now plays for MLS team DC United, does not think Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side will compete for the Premier League title next season.

"The first thing Ole has to do is build the squad and I don't think bringing in one or two players for £100m is going to help the players already there", said the former England skipper, 33.

 

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek, he added: "Ole's better spending £30-40m on players with potential and building the squad around those five or six players.

"You could bring in players in Ronaldo, Messi, Ramos or Bale but it's going to cost you £350m and you'd get two years out of them and you've written that money off."

Barcelona forward Messi, 31, and Juventus attacker Ronaldo, 34, have won a combined 10 Ballons D'Or while Real Madrid captain Ramos, 33, has won the World Cup, European Championship and four Champions League titles.

Ramos' club-mate Bale, 29, has also lifted the European Cup four times - and has long been linked with a move to Old Trafford.

Rooney expects a "tricky" summer of business for Solskjaer, who has been linked with several players - including Ajax's teenage defender Matthijs de Ligt.

Solskjaer, who succeeded Jose Mourinho as United boss - initially on an interim basis - in December, has already begun to reshape his squad, with Swansea winger Daniel James, 21, heading to Old Trafford.

Rooney, United and England's all-time top-scorer, said: "The club needs to rebuild with younger players but they need to be good enough and I think the fans will understand that they are probably not going to compete for the Premier League next year.

 

"Let Ole have that time to build a team for the next two or three years that are going to compete at Premier League and Champions League level.

"It's down to teams like United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham and possibly Everton in the next two years to get to the level of Liverpool and Manchester City."


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