Rooney: I can fill the void on offense
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AP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 30, 2009 00:00
MANCHESTER - Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney believes he can fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez if he is played in his favored central role and supported by new attacking talent.
Man United will receive 80 million pounds ($132 million) from Ronaldo's transfer to Real Madrid but nothing for Tevez, who has been linked with a move to crosstown rival Manchester City after rejecting a permanent contract.
Ecuador winger Luis Antonio Valencia is set to join the Red Devils from Wigan, and Rooney is hoping more players will be signed.
"We've lost two key players and obviously I hope we can get a few players in," Rooney said to British newspaper The Times yesterday. "Between them, Cristiano and Carlos scored a lot of goals for us last season and the season before, but I would like to think I'm capable of filling that gap. "I've said before that, if I can play in my right position, I'm capable of doing that."
Rooney has often been asked to play out wide by manager Alex Ferguson since joining from Everton in 2004, preventing him from consistently showing his best form.
"I want to play in the position where I feel I'm best," Rooney said. "A lot of people think I'm best as a center forward. To play in a Champions League final and to play week in, week out for Manchester United is a privilege and it's something I'm very lucky to be doing, but I don't think playing on the wing I can express myself as much as I like to."
United won a third straight Premier League title last season, but Rooney is "still gutted" about losing the Champions League final to Barcelona.
Meanwhile, Thiago Motta, who was signed by Inter Milan, another club that is at the heart of transfer rumors, has called on teammates Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Maicon to stay at the club to give it the best possible chance of Champions League success.
However, Ibrahimovic has since been touted as a potential replacement for Samuel Eto'o at Barcelona, while Maicon is wanted by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
"Ibrahimovic is one of the three best players in the world and Maicon is No. 1 in his role," Motta said to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "They have to stay, but only if they are happy to stay. You can't play without a smile."
The 26-year-old Brazilian is one of the few Inter players, who know what it takes to win the Champions League. He was a squad member when Barcelona beat Arsenal 2-1 in the 2006 final in Paris.
Ecuador winger Luis Antonio Valencia is set to join the Red Devils from Wigan, and Rooney is hoping more players will be signed.
"We've lost two key players and obviously I hope we can get a few players in," Rooney said to British newspaper The Times yesterday. "Between them, Cristiano and Carlos scored a lot of goals for us last season and the season before, but I would like to think I'm capable of filling that gap. "I've said before that, if I can play in my right position, I'm capable of doing that."
Rooney has often been asked to play out wide by manager Alex Ferguson since joining from Everton in 2004, preventing him from consistently showing his best form.
"I want to play in the position where I feel I'm best," Rooney said. "A lot of people think I'm best as a center forward. To play in a Champions League final and to play week in, week out for Manchester United is a privilege and it's something I'm very lucky to be doing, but I don't think playing on the wing I can express myself as much as I like to."
United won a third straight Premier League title last season, but Rooney is "still gutted" about losing the Champions League final to Barcelona.
Meanwhile, Thiago Motta, who was signed by Inter Milan, another club that is at the heart of transfer rumors, has called on teammates Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Maicon to stay at the club to give it the best possible chance of Champions League success.
However, Ibrahimovic has since been touted as a potential replacement for Samuel Eto'o at Barcelona, while Maicon is wanted by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
"Ibrahimovic is one of the three best players in the world and Maicon is No. 1 in his role," Motta said to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "They have to stay, but only if they are happy to stay. You can't play without a smile."
The 26-year-old Brazilian is one of the few Inter players, who know what it takes to win the Champions League. He was a squad member when Barcelona beat Arsenal 2-1 in the 2006 final in Paris.