Former LA Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas has warned the outfit against signing Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney as he believes it has no benefit to them.
As noted by The Sun, Galaxy have been linked with a move for Rooney as he continues to struggle to win back his place for both club and country.
The 31-year-old has been unable to make a successful transition from a striker to a midfielder, while despite Jose Mourinho’s faith in placing him in the No.10 role at the start of the season, Rooney has found himself on the bench in recent weeks.
That in turn opened up the possibility of an exit from Old Trafford, but Lalas is convinced that his former club shouldn’t be considering a bid for the England international based on what he’s seen with Steven Gerrard.
“They got little return on the Steven Gerrard investment and does Rooney still have much to give and something which works in the MLS, even if he is five years younger than Gerrard?
“Are you replacing a player who had limited involvement and limited impact, with yet another player who will have limited involvement and limited impact?
“If Rooney, at 31, doesn’t still have the things which made him great, then it’s problematic.”
Lalas was sympathetic to an extent with Rooney’s plight insisting that no player can maintain a high level of performance that they were associated with 10 or more years ago
Ultimately though, if Rooney isn’t able to deliver on the pitch then he would just be “stealing money” by living and playing in LA, claimed the former USA international.
Rooney has scored just one goal in 13 appearances for United so far this season, and with Mourinho seemingly having better options in all departments, time will tell as to whether or not the under-fire ace will have to look elsewhere to prolong his career.