Former "Barcelona" defender and current player in Qatar, Xavi, had nothing but good words for "Manchester United" striker Wayne Rooney, stating that he has excellent chances to continue playing successfully in the defensive position for at least another five years.
At the age of 30, Rooney's performance this season has not convinced Louis van Gaal, and there are doubts whether the Englishman will be able to make it into the starting lineup for the entire season. Xavi believes that W. Rooney is a very intelligent player and should understand that he needs to pass on the striker position to another player.
"Wayne Rooney is the player that I have admired for a long time. He is an extraordinary player with exceptional qualities," Xavi told journalists.
In my opinion, Rooney still has something to prove. He needs to adapt to the fact that he is no longer the most important player in the team. There comes a time when you can no longer play the same as before. However, Wayne is an intelligent player, so he can find himself in a new position.
I think it's time for him to give up the striker position to someone who can play for 90 minutes. He has exceptional vision and, I believe, once adapted, he has the opportunity to play at the highest level for another five or six years," added the legend of the "Barcelona" club.
