Manchester United

Xavi: 'Wayne Rooney should vacate striker role, move into midfield'

By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter | 28 October 2015

Xavi tells Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney that it is time for him to adapt to a deeper role and vacate the position as lone striker.

Barcelona legend Xavi has advised Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney to relinquish his role as lone striker and instead drop deeper.

The 30-year-old has faced criticism for a lack of impact at club level this season given that he has only scored two Premier League goals in 10 games.

Xavi, who now plays for Qatari club Al Sadd after leaving Barca in the summer, believes that Rooney can prolong his career if he gives up a position up front.

"Personally I think Rooney still has much to offer, but maybe it's time for him to adapt," Sky Sports News quotes Xavi as saying. "You get to an age and you can't play the game you once used to, you can't cover the ground you used to, but intelligent players adapt and there's no doubting Rooney has a very good footballing brain.

"Maybe it's time for a new striker at Manchester United, who can run for 90 minutes, but Rooney would be very dangerous in a deeper role. He has the vision and the passing range to play that role very well.

"If he can adapt, there's no reason why he can't play at the top level for another five or six seasons, but as a player you must admit to yourself your body is changing and can't do what it used to be able to do."

Ahead of his 30th birthday last week, Rooney insisted that he has plenty of years playing at the highest level left in him.