Shearer: Wayne might have to leave

Posted Friday, April 19, 2013 by The Sun

Shearer: Wayne might have to leave
ON THE FRINGES ... Wayne Rooney has fallen out of favour at Old Trafford

ALAN SHEARER believes Wayne Rooney could have a big decision to make this summer, with his career threatening to stagnate at Old Trafford.

An unhappy-looking Rooney was hauled off 19 minutes from the end of Manchester United’s 2-2 draw at Upton Park on Wednesday with his team trailing 2-1.

This comes on the back of his omission from the side against Real Madrid at home last month and increased interest from Paris Saint-Germain.

England legend Shearer said: “Looking at it, things don’t seem right.

“He has been left out of the team, shunted around and been subbed more than once.

“I would be wondering just where I stand.

“If he is not happy, he needs to move.”

The summer arrival of Robin van Persie has undoubtedly shoved Rooney into the wings, literally at times.

Before the Dutchman quit Arsenal to join him at Old Trafford he was the first name on the teamsheet every week.

Yet last month Alex Ferguson deemed him surplus to requirements when United lined up for their biggest game of the season — the Champions League last-16 second-leg tie against Real Madrid.

Shearer said: “It is obvious he is not the No 1 there any more. Robin van Persie is the automatic choice up front.

“Wayne is not even certain of being on the teamsheet, as was proved against Real Madrid at Old Trafford.

“It was a decision I didn’t agree with and must have made Wayne wonder where he stands at United right now.

“He is still England’s main hope yet he wasn’t good enough for Manchester United on their biggest night of the season for what were described as ‘tactical reasons’.”
Shearer, Newcastle’s and the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer, also wonders whether Rooney would have been cut the same slack had he gone on a barren run similar to the one Van Persie suffered recently.

He said: “I have to ask myself if he had not scored for 10 games, like Robin van Persie recently, whether the manager would have persevered with him.”

Rooney has scored 16 goals for United this season yet against Stoke he was moved back into a defensive-midfield role alongside Michael Carrick.

The manager said it was to help get his confidence back after recent criticism aimed at him.

Shearer said: “I have always said that Rooney would be the best player on the pitch wherever he plays, bar in goal.

“Right now, that is being tested, too. He has gone from the main frontman, to the supporting role in behind Van Persie, to out wide and a deep-lying midfield role.

“You have to ask yourself whether this would happen to someone like Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.

“People will say that he is not in their class.

“But three or four years ago he was being talked about in the same breath.
“He is 27 and these should be the best years of his career coming up but he is not at the level we all expected he would be.

“He has to sit down with his advisors in the summer and ask himself whether or not a move would be beneficial.

“He is already at a great club with a great manager but things just don’t look rosy to me.”

Shearer believes Rooney could end up abroad at somewhere like PSG.

He said: “I am sure Manchester United would not want to move him to another Premier League club so the only option then would be abroad — and PSG are one of the few clubs who could afford him.”