Sat, Dec 05, 2020
Sports

Manchester United Legend Believes Wayne Rooney Is Slowing Down

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Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney at Bet365 Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent, January 21. Rooney's former teammate Rio Ferdinand believes the United captain is tired after a 15-year career. Gareth Copley/Getty
Sports Wayne Rooney Manchester United Premier League Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand believes a 15-year career in professional football may have left his former Manchester United teammate with a body older than his years.

Speaking at London's O2 Arena, Ferdinand, who made 455 appearances for United over a 12-year career at Old Trafford, told The Times Rooney's long career may have caught up with him.

"He is 31 but has probably got the mileage of a 36-year-old with what he has done in his career and the velocity that he plays at. He is probably in a 40-year-old athlete's body," Ferdinand said.

Rooney's equalizing goal against Stoke City last Saturday broke Sir Bobby Charlton's long-standing United scoring record. The free kick was his 250th goal for United in all competitions since he joined the club in 2004.

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Rooney, United's club captain, has found his opportunities more limited under the club's new manager José Mourinho. Since the autumn, he has mostly been confined to a role from the substitutes' bench.

He could feature on Thursday evening, when United takes a 2-0 lead to KCOM Stadium for the second leg of its EFL Cup semi-final against Hull City.

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