SPORTS: We won’t miss Rooney, say United’s Nigerian fans

SHARE THIS POST

Manchester United fans in Nigeria have
heaped praise on Manchester United legend
Wayne Rooney , who joined boyhood club
Everton on July 9, but insist they won ’ t miss
the England captain .
The 31 - year - old secured a switch back to
Goodison Park , 13 years after his transfer to
United as an 18 - year - old.
The fans spoke in glowing terms about
Rooney ’ s achievements at Old Trafford, which
included winning the UEFA Champions
League , Europa League , five EPL titles , one FA
Cup , three Football League Cup, four
Community Shield and the FIFA Club World
Cup , as well as breaking Bobby Charlton ’ s
record as the club ’ s all - time leading
goalscorer .
“ Rooney was a leader . Sir Alex ( Ferguson )
gave him the captain ’ s armband and it was a
great decision because it helped kill his
temperament . He became a leader , a winner
and he led by example as United and England
captain , ” sports presenter Godwin Enakhena
said .
“ Again , he was also influential and led the
dressing room well . Even when he was mostly
on the bench when Jose Mourinho came in ,
you could see that he always wanted to win . ”
Silverbird Television correspondent Blessing
Nwosu agrees with Enakhena .
She said , “ The first season Rooney was made
captain was his best time at United; he became
very responsible and he could stick out his
neck for the team .
Another fan Biola Kazeem recalls his best
memories of the 2009 / 10 Premier League
player of The Year.
Kazeem said, “ Scoring a hat- trick on his debut
versus Fenerbahce ( in a 6 –2 home win in the
UEFA Champions League ) at 18 was amazing
and I won ’ t forget his bicycle kick goal against
rivals Manchester City in the 2010 / 11 season ,
which sealed a 2 - 1 win . ”
Fred Oboh described Rooney as “ a great
player. ”
“ Every United fan respected him so much
because he gave everything to the team , ”
Oboh , a businessman who has followed United
for over two decades, stated .
But the fans all agreed that Rooney is a far cry
from the lad who turned goalsscoring to an
art at Old Trafford , saying they won ’ t miss
him .
“ He scored 25 goals in three seasons ; for a
striker, that’ s not good at all . I thought he
should have left about three seasons ago , ”
Kazeem stated .
Enakhena added , “ It was obvious that Rooney
was not in Mourinho ’ s plans, but because of
his legendary status , United wanted him to
jump rather than push him. It was over for
him at Old Trafford and I ’ m happy he’ s gone
back home. ”
Nwosu believes the four - time England Player
of The Year winner played his best football at
United.
“ I doubt if he could give back to Everton now ,
what he gave to United; he’ s played his best
football for The Reds, and you can ’ t get that
anywhere again . ”
Also , Oboh stated , “ Rooney was no longer the
goals scoring machine and midfield dynamo
we used to know before he left Old Trafford . ”