Before I came back at Old Trafford, I showed the board and the coach four Man Utd players who are the future of this club. They are world class star and we must not sell them. They end up selling the three of them”-Wayne Rooney told Man United to build the team around four players in 2022 but only one remains at the club

**Wayne Rooney’s 2022 Manchester United Rebuild Plan Sees Only Marcus Rashford Remain**

Back in 2022, Wayne Rooney urged Manchester United to rebuild their team around four key players, but two years later, only one of them remains at Old Trafford.

At the time, United were struggling under interim manager Ralf Rangnick, following the dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. During an appearance on Sky Sports’ *Monday Night Football*, Rooney identified four players he believed could be the core of a successful United squad.

He said: “I think [Jadon] Sancho will be better next year, Marcus [Rashford] will be better next year. They’ve got good young players. I think Jesse Lingard should be playing for them because he brings energy, brings quality. Scott McTominay’s done well.”

Rooney continued: “So they do have some good young players, you just have to get some confidence and get them believing that they’re good players and perform at the best level. And then obviously, whoever the new manager is, I’m sure he’ll bring his own players in and build that through.”

Fast forward two years, and of the players Rooney singled out, only Marcus Rashford remains a Manchester United player. However, Rashford endured a difficult 2023/24 season and has struggled to find form this campaign.

Pre & Post Zirkzee pic.twitter.com/Up9qacEKJx

— Jack Fawcett (@JackFawcett1704) September 21, 2024

As for the others, midfielder Scott McTominay made a summer move to Serie A side Napoli. Jadon Sancho, after a public fallout with manager Erik ten Hag, was loaned to Premier League rivals Chelsea on deadline day of the summer transfer window. Jesse Lingard, who left United in 2023 for Nottingham Forest, now plays for K League side FC Seoul.

Manchester United, meanwhile, have had a poor start to the 2024/25 season. They currently sit in 14th place in the Premier League, having suffered losses to Brighton and Liverpool before the international break.

The Red Devils will hope to turn their fortunes around when they face newly-promoted Southampton in Saturday’s early kick-off.