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ADL Daily – Losing Rooney could have detrimental effects on Manchester United
Wayne Rooney’s decision not to renew his contract at Manchester United represents another one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s power struggles at the club and, arguably, one of the most significant. The Red Devils managed to cope without Roy Keane, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Davis Beckham who all locked horns with the United manager. However, Rooney’s desire to leave could not have come at a worse time for United, especially after a string of mediocre results which have resulted in them sitting five points behind their title rivals, Chelsea. Despite Dimitar Berbatov’s impressive form this season, Sir Alex’s team have failed to see off games in which they have been in full control. It was hoped that Rooney would rediscover the form that saw him score 34 goals in the previous campaign, but since suffering the injury against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final stages, he has not looked the same player.
Without Rooney, it is hard to see the current squad offering a serious challenge in Europe or even in the Premier League. Losing the 24-year-old will be a huge blow to Sir Alex Ferguson and his team’s chances on all fronts. He will not be able to rely on his veteran players, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, and Paul Scholes for much longer and losing a young talent in Rooney will have a detrimental effect on the strength and potential of the squad. Not only will it be difficult to replace his goal scoring menace, but it will be almost impossible to find a player that plays with the same desire and ambition as Wayne Rooney has showed both for his club and England. On the other hand, however, it is expected that the Red Devils will be able to cash in on the England international, but, as the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo proved, the state of Manchester United’s debt may prevent Fergie from replacing his best striker.
Two years ago, Lord Triesman, a previous Football Association chairman, put forward a warning about the rising levels of debt in English football. This warning was dismissed in October 2008, but two years later with Manchester United’s £796m debts, Liverpool’s ownership problems, Portsmouth’s administration crisis and the bankruptcy of West Ham’s Icelandic owner, perhaps Triesman’s claims should have been treated much more seriously. At a time of high-interest debt, Manchester United cannot afford to lose Wayne Rooney given their current financial situation. Just like their Merseyside rivals, the financial damage imposed by foreign ownership and investment could eventually damage two England’s greatest clubs who have both enjoyed illustrious histories.
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