Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney has mixed feelings on a trio of players under Ruben Amorim after the 1-0 Premier League defeat to Arsenal.
The Red Devils returned to action on Sunday and Manchester United kicked off the Premier League campaign with a tough test against rivals Arsenal at Old Trafford.
United produced a commendable performance against Arsenal on the weekend, despite the Red Devils failing to snatch a point at the start of their 2025-26 season.
Mikel Arteta’s men walked away from Old Trafford with all three points after Riccardo Calafiori’s first-half opener against United was the difference-maker.
Altay Bayindir fluffed his clearance of Declan Rice’s corner and Riccardo Calafiori arrived at the back post of the United net to head the ball over the line with ease.
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Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney during the Champions League match between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield in 2025 in Liverpool, England.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Wayne Rooney makes his major assessment of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes after Man Utd’s defeat to Arsenal
Ruben Amorim opted to play a two-man midfield pivot of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in the middle of the park for Manchester United’s defeat to Arsenal.
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Bruno Fernandes has dropped into a deeper role for United after the signings of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha from Brentford and Wolves respectively.
The 30-year-old United captain saw out the full 90 minutes against Arsenal, while Casemiro was hooked off in the 65th minute for fellow midfielder Manuel Ugarte.
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the 39-year-old former United and England striker is convinced the Red Devils still need another midfield signing this summer.
“Still, a concern for me in the middle of the pitch, I think, with Casemiro and Bruno,” Wayne Rooney said in the BBC Sport-produced show.
“I think they need more legs in there. I think Bruno [is] a fantastic player and I wanna see him a bit more higher up the pitch where he can be more creative and try and create and score more goals.
“And Casemiro, I just think we… we’re a little bit weaker in there in covering the full width of the pitch.”
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Wayne Rooney has big question marks over the future of Kobbie Mainoo after Man Utd’s opening 2025-26 Premier League match
Kobbie Mainoo was on the bench for the Red Devils’ first Premier League match of the new season and the 20-year-old midfielder was an unused substitute for United.
The Stockport-born player’s 2024-25 Premier League season was disrupted by injuries after his breakout campaign under former United manager Erik ten Hag.
Rooney is now unconvinced that Kobbie Mainoo has a role to play in Amorim’s tactical system for United and was baffled at the England star’s place in the squad.
“So, yeah, I don’t know what has happened with Kobbie Mainoo,” he said.
“I think he’s… he looks like he’s not in the manager’s plans. But yeah, I think there’s so many positives from the game.”
United are 15th in the Premier League table after their loss to Arsenal at Old Trafford and will now travel away to face Fulham on Sunday for their next match.