Wayne Rooney has made a bold prediction about Manchester United ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season. The former Red Devils striker appeared on BBC’s Match of the Day to forecast how England’s top-flight might look by May - and his top-five prediction has raised plenty of eyebrows.
Last season, Ruben Amorim’s side dug up a series of unwanted nadirs: their worst-ever Premier League points tally, the fewest wins in a campaign, and the most defeats in the club’s recent history. It thus prompted the hierarchy to press the reset button once again this summer.
New signings Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko have added fresh impetus in attack, but questions remain over whether United can truly wake up from their slumber. Rome wasn’t built in a day - and with ongoing concerns about their goalkeeper, defence, and midfield - few should expect an instant transformation. Yet that is precisely what one of the club’s greatest-ever players is hopeful of.
Wayne Rooney's 2025/26 Premier League Predictions
Wayne Rooney
There are no bonus points for guessing Rooney’s pick for the title. Like many, he believes Liverpool’s impressive transfer window will give Arne Slot the tools to secure back-to-back Premier League crowns in his first two seasons at Anfield. He also tipped Arsenal to finish runners-up for the fourth year in a row - a prediction that feels like the safe bet now.
Perhaps with some reluctance, Rooney placed Manchester City third and Chelsea fourth. But the real shock came with his choice for the final Champions League spot. In fifth place, he predicted Man United - climbing ten places from last season - to edge out Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, and Newcastle, showing a backheel to the atrocities of just a few months ago. He said (watch his full segment below):
"As I said, I still think they need one or two more signings, but I can see what he [Ruben Amorim] is doing, and I think it's looking better for Manchester United. I think they'll sneak into the top five, and I hope they do."
Man United remain among the favourites to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma after he was frozen out of PSG's squad by Luis Enrique, a move that would go a long way in reversing the damage caused by Andre Onana - whose nine errors leading to goals is more than any other player’s tally in the Premier League over the same period.
Elsewhere, the club's INEOS-led hierarchy are working on a deal that could see Brighton & Hove Albion stalwart Carlos Baleba join their midfield unit. A tireless and industrious player, the Cameroon international could bring more legs to the Red Devils’ midfield and may be another missing piece in the jigsaw puzzle to help the club rediscover their misplaced gleam.