Schmeichel: Rooney to become Reds icon
31/8/04 7:38 PM
Peter Schmeichel believes Wayne Rooney can become a talismanic figure for Unite
d following his ￡20million switch to Old Trafford.
The 18-year-old sealed his dream move late on Tuesday evening - just hours befo
re the close of the transfer window.
Schmeichel is relishing the prospect of seeing Rooney in a red shirt and believ
es the England star can fill the void once occupied by such dominant figures as
Eric Cantona and more recently David Beckham.
"It is the nature of United that they need a special figure, a talismanic playe
r in their ranks," explained the former Reds keeper in his Sunday Times column.
"Once it was Eric Cantona, then it was David Beckham. United need to be talked
about, need to create a buzz and Cantona and Beckham did that.
"Ruud van Nistelrooy is one of the greatest strikers in the world, but he does
not have that Cantona or Beckham image. Rooney is in the Beckham and Cantona ca
tegory.
"At Euro 2004 Rooney was the leading player in the England team and, although h
e is only 18, he already has the ability to be the same kind of figure for Unit
ed.
"Having one player who stands out benefits the whole United system. It keeps th
e focus on the team and thereby everybody on their toes.
"Rooney was England's leading player at Euro 2004 and he has the ability to be
the same kind of figure for United."
Schmeichel on Rooney
"At the moment United find themselves in the - for them - almost unbelievable
position of being viewed as England's third club. People also have a view of Un
ited that they no longer sign the best players in the world. Securing Rooney ha
s blown all that apart."
Rooney's multi-million pound move to Old Trafford looked in danger of falling t
hrough after Everton refused to budge on their initial asking price for the tee
nager - believed to be around the ￡30m mark.
Nevertheless, Sir Alex Ferguson was determined to get his man and Schmeichel be
lieves securing Rooney's services will enable the United boss to use the strike
r in the role just behind Ruud van Nistelrooy - a position which has given Sir
Alex more than a few headaches in recent seasons.
"Rooney will slot so naturally into that position, just off the striker, that F
ergie has been trying to fill for several years," insists the Great Dane.
"He's tried Scholes there, and Giggs, and partnered van Nistelrooy with Diego F
orlan, Ole Solskjaer and Louis Saha, but never quite found the balance United h
ad when Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole had their one great season in tandem in 1998
-9.
"I'd expect Rooney and van Nistelrooy to be the first-choice strike partnership
, with Scholes dropping back alongside Roy Keane in central midfield. Giggs and
Cristiano Ronaldo would support from wide. It's an awesome proposition."
Report by Gemma Thompson.
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