ROO COULD BE DISASTER
Wayne warned he may end up in a real State
WAYNE ROONEY has been warned he could flop in America if he joins MLS.
Rooney’s future in English football is in doubt after losing his status as a starter for both England and Manchester United.
He is expected to make a decision on his next move at the end of this season and has offers on the table from the MLS and Chinese Super League. Everton have also made no secret of their desire to have him back at Goodison Park.
The striker is giving serious thought to following in the footsteps of David Beckham, Frank Lampard (inset) and close friend Steven Gerrard and finishing his career in the US.
But Houston Dynamo president Chris Canetti reckons Rooney’s American dream could turn into a nightmare.
“He would come over here and, I’m hoping, would be energised to play and wouldn’t be here just for the party or the money,” he said.
“It’s a tough league now. It used to be where some of these guys could come over here and think, ‘I’m just going to skate through’.
“But I think there’s been plenty of examples where it’s been proven that you can’t do that. You need to be fit, you need to be focused and you need to take it seriously or you’re going to embarrass yourself.
“He would need to be motivated to come here and be successful. David Beckham was the prime example. He wanted to win here. I’m not sure if Wayne’s as big a brand, just because Beckham was so pop culture. There will be the hard-core fans that say, ‘Wow, Wayne Rooney’. But with David Beckham, you don’t need to be a football fan to know who he is.”
Meanwhile, United boss Jose Mourinho is facing a selection crisis ahead of the clash with West Brom this weekend.
Mourinho was last night sweating on the safe return of Marcos Rojo from international duty with Argentina after centre-halves Chris Smalling and Phil Jones were both crocked while away with England. Jones is out for a month with a broken toe picked up in training after a challenge by Smalling, who then injured his knee. Marouane Fellaini also got injured with Belgium and is not expected to be fit in time to face the Baggies.
Mourinho is also without banned duo Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ander Herrera, while Paul Pogba and Rooney are struggling to be fit. But Mourinho will be most concerned over his defence and looks like having no choice but to pick Rojo and Eric Bailly.
United face nine games in April as they look to secure a top-four finish and win the Europa League.
After the Baggies they play Everton, Sunderland, Chelsea, Burnley, Swansea and Manchester City, with a two-legged Europa League quarter-final against Anderlecht to squeeze in as well.