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Jose Mourinho reveals Wayne Rooney will play up front for Manchester United after failed experiment to make him a midfielder

Axed Louis van Gaal converted the captain into a playmaker but the new Old Trafford boss wants him scoring goals up front

WALLY DOWNES JR

Published: 12:23, 5 Jul 2016
Updated: 14:31, 5 Jul 2016

Wayne Rooney has been basking in some high praise from new boss Jose Mourinho

WAYNE ROONEY will face a desperate fight with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial to lead Manchester United’s attack next season.

Jose Mourinho revealed in his explosive first United press conference that the captain will no longer play in midfield after Louis van Gaal tried to convert him into a deeper position last season.

Wayne Rooney has already stated he wants to play under the new boss — Wayne Rooney has already stated he wants to play under the new boss but he will no longer be playing in the midfield role Louis van Gaal game himCredit: Reuters

Wayne Rooney — Wayne Rooney endured a miserable time in France where he captained England to an unprecedented failure but he will be refreshed by the new Man United bossCredit: Reuters

England boss Roy Hodgson blindly followed suit and played the 30-year-old in midfield for the Euro 2016 shambles in France.

But he will be a goalscorer again at Old Trafford now the former Chelsea boss is in charge.

The Portuguese said: “In football there are many jobs on the field. I think the most difficult to find is a man to put the ball in the goal.

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“And I know players change in the years. Their qualities and characteristics change, it is normal that a player at his age changes.

"But one thing never changes and that is the natural appetite to score.

“Maybe he isn’t a striker or a nine but, with me, he will never be a six or playing 50 metres from goal.

“Yes his passing is amazing but so is mine without pressure.

Jose Mourinho — Jose Mourinho was unveiled as Manchester United manager at a press conference where he revealed Wayne Rooney will be returned to attackCredit: PA:Press Association

Jose Mourinho — Jose Mourinho was paraded at Old Trafford for the first time where he took his trademark snide swipe at long-term rival Arsene WengerCredit: Reuters

“To be there to score is the most difficult thing to do. So he will be a nine or a 10 or a 9.5 but not a six or an eight.”

Sweden legend Ibrahimovic will start as the central striker after he joined from Paris Saint-Germain where he kept once-prolific marksman Edinson Cavani out of the team.

So it appears Rooney will be nudged out wide to support the former Barcelona and AC Milan main man.

On the attacking flanks he will face competition from homegrown hero Rashford, who lit up the left-hand side of the England attack in the too-few minutes he got in France with the Three Lions.

And France starlet Martial - who the club could end up paying £57.6m following his move last summer - will want to keep Rooney out of the side for his own progress.

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