What Has Gone Wrong For This Manchester United Superstar Once Feared By Everyone?

The most-troubled football player on earth right now has to be Wayne Rooney. From getting dropped to the bench for both club and country, to his most recent late-night drinking session trouble during the international break, it just doesn’t get any worse for the 31-year-old.

While it still looks too early and might not be conclusively true, it can’t just be denied that Wazza appears to be at the tail end of the twilight of what has been a great club and international career, but it doesn’t seem to be going all well for him as he would have expected.

At 31, some late bloomers are just approaching the peak of their careers and still playing very important roles in their clubs and countries. Some others are closer to dropping from the peak of their game with age setting in, while a lot are still maintaining their form and defying the odds to turn out great performance every now and then.

Sadly, the Manchester United star belongs to none of these categories. While his leadership positions with both club and country are still very important to both, they are roles another will soon take up and it doesn’t seem he would be leaving a vacant position that is going to become too big to fill.

There are talks of a move away come January, with Everton interested in a reunion while a few MLS clubs and Chinese Super League sides are looking in his direction and hoping to seal a swoop on the player. However, Jose insists Rooney is a very much needed man at the Old Trafford.

But after playing just 624 minutes of Premier League football this term and permanently become a squad player at the club, the Portuguese’s claims don’t look to be completely true at the very least of the skipper whom United couldn’t do without in the starting lineup last season and in the ones before.

Wayne Rooney has suffered a huge dip in form; one that is beginning to prove too much and herculean for him to complete a comeback from. And it doesn’t look like a change of club would be able to help the legend out. We wouldn’t truly know that until he switches side, though, but the signs don’t look good.

At least, a change of position hasn’t. From attacking midfield to central midfield, right wing and as a centre forward, Rooney has played them all this season. Sadly, he has just a goal to show for it in 11 Premier League appearances, but his 4 assists are a decent return for someone many believe quitting the game or at least top level football could be the best choice.

His first touches have become heavier. His shots are becoming weaker, and his movements on and off the ball remind us nothing about the old Rooney. No longer is he a threat to opposition defenders and goalies, and he has lost almost every of those magical touches that often made him a perennial match and trophy winner.

Perhaps, the motivation and hunger has waned as there is really nothing else left to play for, at least in club level football. He has won it all and will always go down in history as an icon at the Theater of Dreams. He is just 7 goals away from equalling Bobby Charlton’s 249 Manchester United highest goals, while he has already surpassed the 79-year-old’s national record by 4 goals.

Rooney’s future at United has a very dark cloud hanging over it, and his days appeared numbered. Everything isn’t going right for Wazza right now and doesn’t look like it would anytime soon. The reason is simple ; this legend is way past his prime.