Wayne Rooney's 2022 advice for Manchester United to build their squad around four attacking players has not aged well, with only Marcus Rashford still at the club and Jadon Sancho now a free agent.
In April 2022, before Erik ten Hag's arrival at Old Trafford, the Reds icon said United should build their team around Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Jesse Lingard and Scott McTominay to turn a corner.
Rooney's 2022 verdict
"I think Sancho will be better next year, Marcus will be better next year," Rooney said. "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."
He added: "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."
Marcus Rashford's fall and partial return
Rashford is the only player mentioned by Rooney still at United. After the comments, he had the best season of his career under Ten Hag, scoring 30 goals in all competitions. His form then drastically deteriorated as off-field transgressions made headlines, leading to punishment from the manager.
Under Ruben Amorim, Rashford fared even worse, with the Portuguese openly calling out his poor training performances a month after taking charge. The forward was frozen out and sent on loan to Aston Villa in January 2024. By summer 2024, he joined Barcelona on a season-long loan with an option to buy.
After an impressive first season in Spain, Barcelona did not activate the clause, and the 28-year-old returned to Carrington this summer. He has been re-integrated into Michael Carrick's squad and made his first appearance in 19 months earlier this month. His future remains uncertain.
McTominay's success at Napoli
Rooney was completely right about McTominay's potential, but the Scotsman only reached it after leaving. Sold to Napoli in 2024, he scored 13 goals in his first season and fired the team to a Scudetto, earning Serie A Most Valuable Player and Footballer of the Year awards for 2024/25.
The 29-year-old scored 14 goals in all competitions in 2025/26 and won the Supercoppa Italiana, but Napoli settled for second place in the league. He is now hoping to return to winning ways under Max Allegri.
Lingard and Sancho's declines
Lingard left United in summer 2022, joining Nottingham Forest, where his brief time was unsuccessful. He neither scored nor assisted in 17 league appearances but had three goal involvements to help reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals. Released at the end of 2022/23, he signed for FC Seoul, won their Player of the Year in 2025, and left in December 2025. The 33-year-old joined Corinthians in March 2026 and has yet to score in the league.
Sancho arrived in July 2021 for £73m but his career stalled. After a loan return to Borussia Dortmund in January 2024, he played for Chelsea and Aston Villa on loan without impressing enough for a permanent move. He left United this summer at the end of his contract and remains without a club.
