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Wayne Rooney delivers a scathing verdict on the state of Manchester United, urges the club to “get rid” of most of their squad and warns it could take 15 YEARS to win the Champions League again.

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Wayne Rooney has delivered a brutal verdict on Manchester United’s squad, believing most of them should be moved by the club.

United’s all-time leading goalscorer spoke after the 3-2 win over Newcastle on Wednesday night.

It was a positive result in their last game at Old Trafford this season but it has been a bitterly disappointing season with fans hoping they can finish the campaign on a high by pulling off a massive upset against FA rivals Man City . Cup final.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Rooney appeared eager to surprise presenter David Jones with his damning assessment of United’s current squad.

Rooney said: “You have to build the team around Bruno. He’s got quality and he’s got fight in him, and then I think all the other players run away from them.

Rooney delivered a brutal verdict on the team after the 3-2 win against Newcastle
He called for the squad to be built around Bruno Fernandes and said that apart from the midfielder and their young stars, the club should get rid of the rest of the current squad.
Rooney was part of the last Man United team to win the Champions League in 2008 and believes it could be another 15 years before the Red Devils win Europe’s biggest prize again.

When quizzed about his comment by a shocked Jones, Rooney clarified: “I think you keep the young players and you keep Bruno.

“I think there needs to be a massive clarification. Must be. It won’t be in a year, but I think it will be in the next two years.

Jones then asked Rooney if he would keep the likes of Andre Onana, Diogo Dalot and Harry Maguire.

Rooney replied: “I think he (Onana) had a shaky start but he’s gotten better and better over the year.

“For me, Dalot has done well, Maguire has had an on and off season.

“To compete in this league, they need better players. Don’t get me wrong, these players are good players. But to compete with Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal, they need better players.

Rooney was then asked for his thoughts on former team-mate Marcus Rashford, who has suffered a drastic dip in form this season, netting just eight times this term, compared to 30 last year.

He said: ‘We all know Marcus has the capabilities to play at the highest level and we haven’t seen that.

Rooney wondered if it’s time for Marcus Rashford to ‘go play somewhere else’
While he believes players like Harry Maguire and Diogo Dalot are good, he believes they need “better players” to go and challenge the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool in the future.

“I just wonder if it’s time for Marcus to go play somewhere else.” I think they need to ask themselves that question. I want him to stay and break records at this club. He has to work hard and keep his head down.

Rooney was joined in science by former United team-mate Wayne Rooney and another club legend in Andy Cole.

Cole, who was part of United’s Treble-winning side in 1998-99, said United were unlikely to close the gap on Manchester City any time soon.

He said: ‘For me personally, the gap will not close in the next two years. If you look at the gap now between Manchester United and Man City, that says it all.

“You can’t close the gap in two years. Man City will try to start again next season.

“This will take time, this is a construction process, which could take four or five years.”

Wayne Rooney added: “Well, you look at Man City, when the new owners came in, it took them 15 years to win the Champions League. It is possible to look at it, hope not.

Raphael Varane has already announced that he will leave Manchester United at the end of the season.

Roy Keane (centre) said it could be difficult to move to players on high wages at the moment
Raphael Varane (second right) will leave the club this summer, while Anthony Martial (second left) is expected to follow him on the Old Trafford exit after a long spell at the club.

But Keane said that moving other high-paid players could be difficult for the Red Devils.

He said: “We talk about moving players but it’s hard to move on without players.

“Some of the players here have huge money and some of them won’t go anywhere, they won’t budge unless they get paid.

“A lot of players have been given an opportunity. There is a lot of concern that these players are constantly injured, but if you are injured all the time, you are no good to anyone.

“Okay, every club has its injuries. But if they’re always injured, you can’t rely on those players to turn up every week at Man United.

The subject then moved on to Anthony Martial, who has been out since December and looks set to follow international team-mate Varane out the exit door this summer.

Rooney said: “Martial, I’ve played with him, he’s a really nice guy. But where was it? Those with him? Is he hurt?

Keane replied: “At least his contract is up. It’s a plus that you say you’re leaving. But the reality is that it will be very difficult.

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