The biggest transfer of the summer might be complete but that still raises a number of questions about just how Paul Pogba will fit into Manchester United. The Premier League side spent a record €110m to bring the talented French midfielder back to the side, just a few years after he left on a cheap deal to Juventus.
Granted that Pogba is one of the best in the world but Manchester United have also signed a number of other top stars such as Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who should be sure shot starters for them in the season.
With so much pressure and hype being built up on the side, Jose Mourinho has the tough job of working together with this team and bringing Premier League glory. The big hurdle in his way would be Wayne Rooney and how he would deal with his position in the team.
Rooney did not have a great season or even campaign under the stewardship of Louis van Gaal. His position was chopped and changed regularly to somehow fit him into the team. The one failed experiment was playing him in midfield, not the smartest move by the former manager.
Jose Mourinho has unequivocally stated that Rooney will play as a striker or so he believes so. Manchester United have to shoehorn Rooney if he is to play in this side and the chances of that happening seem slim.
United cannot drop Paul Pogba, no one spends this much money to bring in a player and then keep him on the bench. The midfield would have Pogba and possiblely Morgan Schneiderlin in the side, even the former Juventus star could play a little higher up with Schneiderlin and Ander Herrera or Daley Blind doing the hard work in the middle of the park.
Where does that leave Rooney? Well, it could be true but the Englishman might not be playing in the first XI on a regular basis. He might be the biggest name in the team, well at least after Zlatan Ibrahimovic but the Swede is the player who will start right up front and lead the Manchester United attack.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan could be played just behind the former PSG and AC Milan star after all, the Armenian is best utilised just behind the main striker. The wings should be taken up by Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard, given his supreme rise in recent seasons and even post his performance in the Community Shield. Who knows, Memphis Depay could be given a chance out wide since he is a legitimate wide player.
Wayne Rooney might get a chance to play just behind Zlatan but he might not be the first choice anymore and sacrificing Paul Pogba just to fit the England captain into the side does not make sense. The addition would just work against what Mourinho is looking to build at United and maybe, just maybe he can ease Rooney out of the side, one game at a time.