‘It was important to move on’ – Rooney hails how Ten Hag handled Ronaldo’s controversial exit

FOOTBALL ‘It was important to move on’ – Rooney hails how Ten Hag handled Ronaldo’s controversial exit

Kiplagat Sang • 11:20 - 31.03.2023

Rooney said it is important how the club has moved on since the Portuguese superstar left.

Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has hailed Erik ten Hag for how he handled the controversial Cristiano Ronaldo exit.

Ronaldo, a Premier League and Champions League winner with United, left the club by mutual consent last November. This was just a week after giving an explosive TV interview explaining frustrations at Old Trafford.

"I suppose he got what he wanted," Rooney told CNN.

"For Manchester United, it was important to move on as quickly as possible from that and really refocus on the group of players who were there and wanted to be there.

"And I think that’s where Ten Hag has done a really good job in refocusing the players and getting them in a position where they are, obviously, comfortably in the top four, and also winning the [League] Cup."

Meanwhile, Rooney has tipped Marcus Rashford – with 120 goals for the Red Devils – to break his club record of 253.

"I think we’ve all known about Marcus, even before he was in the first team, coming through the academy," he added.

"He’s a top player, and he fell off a little bit over the last 18 months, especially. And again, I think Ten Hag has come in and really simplified it for him," Rooney states.

"I’m not a player who sits on records and hopes no one breaks them. I hope he does it and the reasons why [with] him being a Manchester lad coming through the academy.

"I think it’s a great story and it means he’s been very successful with the club and been there a long time and scored a lot of goals if he does do it. So I hope he does.

"I think he certainly has the ability and the capabilities to be able to do it. I’m sure, or I hope, sometime in the next few years I’ll be able to pass that mantle onto him."