Rooney’s long, slow final bow
IF, as the rumours suggest, Wayne Rooney leaves in the summer to ply his trade in the Chinese Super League, yesterday was one of the few occasions left for fans to see in the flesh the one-time great hope of English football.
Of the famous England ‘Golden Generation’ which went to the 2004 European Championship and then the 2006 World Cup – think Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Rio Ferdinand – Rooney always had the shiniest
talent and was the most likely to light up a game with a flash of inspiration.
His tally of 252 goals in 553 United games before yesterday marks Rooney, now 31, as one of the most significant players in his club’s glorious history.
Indeed, he is United’s highest all-time scorer and has won five Premier League titles, a Champions League, one FA Cup and three League Cups. But that once glittering light is fading fast now, and if this is the way that Rooney’s career in English football ends, it is looking like a sad, anti-climax as he shuffles off into the wings.
Rooney has barely figured this season, yesterday being only his 12th Premier League start of the campaign.
There he was, out there again, flicking a header over early on, laying a neat little ball through for Anthony Martial to see his shot saved. Buzzing about just behind Martial, arguing with a linesman and the referee – but then twice being left on his backside for pace by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Rooney was undoubtedly in the team because Jose Mourinho made eight changes from the side that beat Celta Vigo on Thursday in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final but then that is what he has become these days: a bit-part player.
When Rob Holding laid a careless back pass into Rooney’s path on the half hour, he was a half-second slow in getting his shot away. Petr Cech still had to make a good save but five years ago the ball would have been in the back of the net.
Mourinho span round, walked back to his bench in fury and punched the air in disgust several times.
If ever a moment exemplified the view of Rooney from his manager, that was it.
But there were still flashes of the old magic – a dipping free-kick that Cech had to save, a curling shot wide – and still he worked and chased, as he always has.
But then Mesut Ozil, hardly the most dynamic player on any pitch these days, also left him on the deck.
Given Ozil’s recent work-rate for Arsenal, this might have been the most damning moment of all.
The end looks to be nigh for one of English football’s brightest talents. But there are no fanfares, no celebrations. Just a quiet, sad fading away.