All-time leading England goal-scorer Wayne Rooney has finally completed his move to DC United of the MLS. Rooney joins on a free transfer with his contract believed to be worth £10m over 3 and a half years. It is Rooney’s second free transfer in 12 months after he moved from Manchester United to Everton last summer.
Rooney will officially complete his transfer on July 10th when the MLS transfer window opens. He is currently expected to make his debut at Audi Field Stadium on the 14th July. It will be the opening of the clubs new 20,000 capacity stadium. The debut also falls on the same day as the World Cup Final.
“I have the hunger to be a success here and will give DC 100% – as I have always done for every team I have ever played for. Now I can’t wait to get on the pitch in a United shirt and join my new teammates to bring success to this club.”
WAYNE ROONEY
A Storied Career
When Wayne Rooney left his boyhood club to join Manchester United, it was because he wanted to win trophies. Over the ensuing 13 years, he filled his trophy cabinet with an astonishing 16 trophies. He scored 253 goals in 559 games for Manchester United and left the club as the all-time leading scorer.
His time with England wasn’t as successful in terms of trophies, but his goals return was equally impressive. His 53 goals in 119 caps marking him as England’s all-time goalscorer.
Can Rooney Still Cut It
Despite suffering a severe downturn in goals in the Premier League in his last few seasons at Manchester United, Rooney was hoping to make a comeback at Everton. However, the years look to have caught up with Rooney somewhat. After a blistering start to the campaign, he finished with 11 goals in 40 games. This was only a marginal improvement on his 8 in 38 in his final year in a United shirt.
Not the box to box full energy player he was for much of his career, Rooney still has the footballing brain to lead the team on the pitch. His ability to pick a pass, or finish a chance, is still undiminished. However, he doesn’t get into the attacking positions like he used to. Consequently, his lack of positional discipline has begun to seriously hurt his productivity.
If he stays up the field as a 10, or maybe a 9, he will cause the defenses of MLS teams a lot of problems. If he tries to get involved all over the pitch, however, he will likely find his swansong rapidly turning into a dirge.
#NoWayneNoGain pic.twitter.com/HfbLmCsBOq
— D.C. United (@dcunited) June 28, 2018
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