In 2022, Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney proposed a bold rebuild plan for the club, emphasizing the importance of building around four key players to restore the team’s former glory. At that time, United was reeling from a disappointing run of results under interim manager Ralf Rangnick, who had taken over following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The club was desperate for stability, and Rooney, offering his perspective as a pundit on *Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football*, suggested that the future of Manchester United should be centered around young talents who could form the backbone of the squad for years to come.
Rooney singled out Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Scott McTominay, and Jesse Lingard as the players who, with the right support and confidence, could drive United forward. He expressed his belief that Sancho and Rashford, in particular, would flourish in the upcoming season, stating that “they’ve got good young players” and just needed to regain their confidence. He also advocated for Jesse Lingard’s return to the starting lineup, praising the midfielder’s energy and quality, while giving credit to McTominay for his strong performances.
However, fast forward to 2024, and Rooney’s vision has not unfolded as planned. Of the four players he believed could form the foundation of a successful Manchester United squad, only Marcus Rashford remains at the club today. The landscape at Old Trafford has dramatically shifted, with the other three either leaving the club permanently or on loan. Despite Rooney’s optimism, it seems that the turbulent nature of Manchester United’s recent seasons has made it difficult for the club to build the consistency and stability he envisioned.
Marcus Rashford, the player who remains at the heart of the squad, has not had the career resurgence Rooney predicted. While Rashford showed glimpses of his potential in the years following Rooney’s comments, the 2023/24 season proved to be particularly difficult for the winger. A combination of injuries and a dip in form saw him struggle to replicate the heights of previous seasons, leaving both fans and pundits questioning whether he could rediscover his spark. The current 2024/25 campaign hasn’t provided much solace either, as Rashford continues to search for his best form amid Manchester United’s broader struggles on the pitch.
As for Scott McTominay, his journey took a different path after he found himself slipping down the pecking order under Erik ten Hag’s management. Once seen as a reliable and hard-working presence in midfield, McTominay’s role diminished as United brought in new signings to strengthen their squad. In the summer of 2024, he made a move to Serie A side Napoli, seeking a fresh start in Italy. Though his time at Manchester United was marked by moments of promise, McTominay ultimately became surplus to requirements as the club sought new solutions in the midfield area.
Jadon Sancho’s time at Old Trafford has been even more tumultuous. When he arrived at the club, there were high hopes that the former Borussia Dortmund star would bring flair and creativity to United’s attack. Yet, his form never quite lived up to expectations, and tensions with Erik ten Hag reached a boiling point during the 2023/24 season. A public fallout between the player and manager culminated in Sancho being loaned out to Premier League rivals Chelsea on the final day of the summer transfer window in 2024. His departure underscored the growing disarray at United, as they continued to grapple with internal conflicts and underwhelming performances.
Jesse Lingard, once a key figure in Rooney’s rebuild vision, had already left Manchester United by 2023. After spending a brief period with Nottingham Forest, where he experienced a mixed spell, Lingard made a surprising move to South Korea, joining K League side FC Seoul. His departure from English football was a far cry from the role Rooney had imagined for him at United, where he once brought energy and drive to the team. Lingard’s decline in form and the lack of a consistent role at Old Trafford ultimately led him to seek opportunities abroad.
Meanwhile, Manchester United as a whole have continued to struggle. The 2024/25 season has gotten off to a poor start, with the team languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table. Losses to Brighton and Liverpool before the international break only deepened the sense of crisis at the club, and they now face an uphill battle to turn their season around. With their next match against newly-promoted Southampton looming, United will be desperate to secure a positive result and arrest their downward trajectory.
The match against Southampton is more than just a routine fixture—it represents a critical juncture for Manchester United. A victory could help restore confidence and provide a platform for the club to build on, while a defeat could plunge them further into turmoil. The pressure on both Erik ten Hag and the players is mounting, and the need for leadership and inspiration is greater than ever. As Rooney’s rebuild vision becomes a distant memory, the current state of the squad serves as a reminder of how quickly things can change in football.
In the end, Rooney’s 2022 plan for rebuilding Manchester United around four young players has not come to fruition. While his belief in Rashford, Sancho, McTominay, and Lingard was rooted in their potential, the complexities of modern football, managerial changes, and the demands of competing at the highest level have led to a much different outcome. As United continue to search for solutions on and off the pitch, the vision of a stable, successful squad remains elusive, with only Rashford left to carry the torch from Rooney’s ambitious plan.