Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs says Wayne Rooney has been “confused” by Jose Mourinho.
The Welshman believes that Rooney’s switch back to a role up front has been detrimental to him this season.
Rooney was dropped by Mourinho after a slow start to the season and was also dropped by interim England manager Gareth Southgate for the dismal 0-0 draw in Slovenia.
But United legend Giggs, who won five Premier League titles and the Champions League alongside the England skipper, says Rooney can work himself back into the starting XIs for club and country.
After being a lightning quick winger for much of his career, in his later years Giggs eventually became an effective central midfielder.
He played less games as he was older, but still played a vital role in several title winning campaigns, before retiring with a record 13 Premier League winners’ medals.
Giggs believes Rooney, who has played regular top-flight football since he was just 16, is starting to go through those same changes.
The 42-year-old told ITV: “I see a player who’s going through a transitional period, I went through it when I was 29 or 30, where I was a winger and I couldn’t knock it around a defender and get it the other side.
“I feel a little bit sorry for him, towards last season and for England in the summer he was played in that deeper role, then he was told he’s playing as a No 9 or a No 10 [by Mourinho], he’s probably a bit confused.”
Rooney was booed at Wembley Stadium on Saturday but Giggs doesn’t think Rooney’s career at the top is over.
Giggs added: “The only way he can get it back is on the training pitch.
“I don’t see him playing in a specific position, he’s got the talent to play so many positions, and the experience.”
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