Phil Neville believes Wayne Rooney is close to deserving a statue at the club…
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Former Manchester United player and coach Phil Neville has claimed that current United star Wayne Rooney is within touching distance of deserving a statue at Old Trafford.
Daily Mail reports are carrying the story, with the former Everton man heaping praise on the new United captain, who has scored 217 goals in 443 appearances for the club, since joining from the Toffee’s in 2004.
Neville believes that Rooney will reach ‘statue status’ if he surpasses Bobby Charlton’s goal scoring record at the club. The World Cup winning icon scored 249 goals in 758 matches.
“If you break Bobby Charlton’s record at Manchester United you’re talking statue status,” Neville told The Mirror. “Because he’s an all-time great. People like Wayne Rooney, that’s what gets his juices flowing. When I say statue material I mean becoming a great.
“There have been brilliant players who have played for Man United but you’re talking about all-time United greats – Law, Best, Charlton, Ferguson. And Giggs is in that category also.
“Denis Law, George Best, Bobby Charlton and Alex Ferguson all have statues already and Neville believes Rooney can join that elite group if he works hard enough.
“Rooney will be aiming to break records to put him up there with the greatest,’ said Neville. ‘That’s got to be his challenge over the next five years.”
Rooney has enjoyed considerable success since joining the club as a teenager from Everton back in 2004. The 28-year-old has won five Premier League titles, two League Cups, the Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup.
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