“Wayne Rooney is not a midfielder”-Says Jose Mourinho

Man United captain Wayne Rooney started playing on the midfield last season under Louis Van Gaal,but Jose Mourinho  declined and said Rooney is not a midfielder.  Rooney played on the midfield  at the end of last season and continued in that position for England during their ill-fated Euro 2016 campaign.

Mourinho confirmed that Wayne Rooney will not play as midfielder under his management,”he’s a striker” says Jose.  Rooney admitted earlier this year he had always expected to become a midfielder in his later years and was hoping to emulate United great Paul Scholes.

Mourinho insisted goalscorers are hard to find and Rooney is a natural at placing the ball behind the net.  United boss Jose spoke on the conferance, the Portuguese said, “Maybe he is not a No 9 anymore but he will never, with me, be a No 6. He will never be 50 metres from the goal. ”

“For me, he will be a No 9 or a No 10, or a number nine-and-a-half, but with me he will never be a No 6, not even a No 8,” said Jose.

“In football, there are many jobs on the field. The one that is more difficult to find is the one who puts the ball in the net.

“Players change their characteristics with age, so it’s normal that they change a little bit.

“But the natural appetite to put the ball in the net never changes.”

Rooney said in April,”said in April: “I’ve known for a few years I would play in midfield.”

“I have played and watched Paul Scholes play that role for years and I always knew that one day that is where I would play, so I have tried to learn and watch what he did.”

Rooney, only scored 15 goals for United last season and will be honored in a testimonial on August 3.

“It is still early days, but hopefully, if I keep playing there, I can develop and get better.”