Wayne Rooney Chooses Kobbie Mainoo Over Trent Alexander-Arnold for England’s Euro Midfield
Wayne Rooney has stated unequivocally that he would choose Kobbie Mainoo over Trent Alexander-Arnold for England’s midfield at the upcoming Euros in Germany. The Manchester United teenager has had a breakout season, positioning himself as a promising option for Gareth Southgate’s squad. While Alexander-Arnold has established himself over the years and recently begun transitioning into a midfield role, Rooney believes Mainoo deserves the nod.
Rooney was asked on “The Overlap” if he would consider moving the Liverpool star to midfield. He responded, “No. I have watched Trent play in midfield a few times and I think you lose a lot of his qualities. His delivery is obviously incredible and of course he can pick passes from midfield, but I think he has to fight it out [with Walker for the right-back spot].”
Importance of Midfield Discipline
Wayne Rooney further elaborated on his reasoning, emphasizing the crucial nature of the midfield position. He said, “I know Kyle is the best right-back in the world at the minute but I think midfield is such an important position. I would play Mainoo before Trent in midfield, 100%.”
Wayne Rooney acknowledged Alexander-Arnold’s abilities, saying, “It’s not that Trent can’t play there, we saw him do it recently against Everton and some of the passes he was hitting were unbelievable. It’s probably only Becks [David Beckham] who beats him in that area. But I think to play in midfield, you need that discipline, especially when you come up against the bigger teams, and he might get found out a little bit.”
England’s Midfield Options
With Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham as certainties for England’s midfield, the availability of a central role might depend on whether Phil Foden is used centrally or out wide. Foden has been a standout performer but often plays on the wing for the Three Lions.
Mainoo’s Impressive Rise
Despite his recent emergence, Mainoo has quickly become a key player for Manchester United. He scored in the FA Cup final, and Southgate has expressed confidence in the youngster’s ability to handle pressure. Southgate remarked, “The curious thing about young talent is how will they cope under pressure. You can see the technical ability but it’s about how tactically aware they are, how mature, ability to cope with big matches. When you’re playing for Manchester United, you’re always under the spotlight. He’s shown that with them, with us in March. We’ve never been afraid to put young players in. If players are good enough, we’re not so concerned about their age.”
Rooney’s endorsement of Mainoo over Alexander-Arnold highlights the depth of England’s talent pool and the difficult choices facing Southgate as he finalizes his squad for the Euros.
