Alex Ferguson has moved quickly to put a protective shield around teenage striker Wayne Rooney — and Manchester United’s new record signing insists he is mature enough to evade the pitfalls that could derail his emerging career.
Rooney’s move from Everton to Old Trafford was for a fee that could rise to £30-million — a new mark for a teenager and surpassing the £19-million that AS Roma paid Bari for Antonio Cassano three years ago — and the weight of expectation on the forward is already intense.
A broken foot will sideline the England international for at least two weeks, but it is Rooney’s life away from the pitch that has hit the front pages since the striker emerged from Euro 2004 with a reputation as the continent’s most exciting young prospect.
Lurid tales about Rooney’s social life have provided ammunition to observers who fear the player could follow the path trodden previously by the likes of Paul Gascoigne and fail to fulfil his undoubted potential.
And Rooney’s decision to seek a move from the club he supported as a boy has transformed him from local hero to villain on Merseyside.
But Ferguson, who has a formidable reputation as a disciplinarian, has no fears for his new acquisition.
”We have a good reputation for looking after young players here,” said the Scot, whose occasional fiery temper has been the stuff of legend at Old Trafford where he once famously kicked a football boot that hit his intended target, David Beckham, in the face.
”We are professional and I don’t see that as a problem. For me, dealing with players has always been a black-and-white issue. Whenever you have to speak to a player about an issue, he is either doing the right thing or doing the wrong thing.
”We have to look after all the players and Wayne will get the same advice and protection as anyone else. But the most important thing is that dressing room of ours, which is a security in itself, people like Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, the Nevilles and Ryan Giggs are all mature, stable professionals and that’s the best of all.
”Wayne will see these players and see how they have grown into how they are today and it’s not by accident.”
Rooney responded: ”The manager hasn’t had to say anything to me about how I should behave off the pitch. As a professional footballer, I should know, and I do know how to handle myself.
”No one has to tell me how to behave on and off the pitch because I know.
”Over the last year I think I have matured a lot on and off the pitch, which I think you have to, really, because there are a lot of people trying to bring you down, but you just have to ignore it and get on with things.
”Obviously the spotlight is going to be on me a bit more because I have signed for one of, if not the, biggest clubs in the world and I think I am big enough and strong enough to handle that.”
Ferguson views the signing of Rooney as the latest, and most significant, step in his efforts finally to overhaul the side that claimed the historic treble of Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League in 1999.
With Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portugal winger, already established in the team and Darren Fletcher and Liam Miller challenging for a regular starting place, the average age of his side is rapidly reducing, but Ferguson has warned Rooney not to expect to walk straight into the side.
”Last year I said we had to start rebuilding Manchester United because we had had some great success with a group of players who were reaching 29 or 30 and we never let a team get too old,” Ferguson added.
”Wayne understands, like Ryan Giggs did and like Ronaldo does, that he is a young lad and we won’t be asking him to climb a mountain tomorrow. The important thing is that he is a major player in five years’ time and not tomorrow.
”There is always big danger with young players that we ask too much from them too early. We want them to mature as easily as they can and it didn’t do Ryan Giggs any harm or the rest of our young players to take each step slowly and then by the time they are in their mid-twenties they are top players.” — Sapa-AFP