A former Premier League star is hoping to reignite his career years after being touted for a move to Manchester United
Wayne Rooney on the BBC
Wayne Rooney once wanted Manchester United to sign a former Chelsea star (Image: BBC)
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Wayne Rooney's previous plans for ex-Chelsea star Tariq Lamptey differed greatly to the course his football career has taken. The 25-year-old - who signed for Queens Park Rangers this past week - departed his boyhood club for Brighton in 2020 and went on to become one of the most exciting full-backs in the Premier League.
A key member of Graham Potter's full-throttle Seagulls side, Lamptey's impressive performances saw the likes of Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain reportedly registering interest in his services.
However, a move abroad would have disappointed Rooney who wanted United to sign the full-back to replace Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Writing in his Sunday Times column, the former England striker said in 2020: "Personally, if I were doing their recruiting, as well as that No 9 I’d go for another centre half to partner Harry Maguire and try for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Tariq Lamptey, who looks a brilliant attacking right back.
"While Aaron Wan-Bissaka has done OK defensively, you want United full backs to put the opposition on the back foot when the team have the ball and I don’t think he does that."
Lamptey also garnered significant praise from United icon Andy Cole, who predicted a "bright future" in store for the defender.
Cole said: "I watched him on Sunday against Newcastle and he was man of the match without even lasting the whole 90 minutes," said Cole. "He was up and down that right-hand side and I just said ‘Wow’.
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 09: Tariq Lamptey of Brighton & Hove Albion celebrates with teammates after scoring their team's third goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion at Emirates Stadium on November 09, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Tariq Lamptey has been plagued with injury in recent years (Image: Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
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"Then I just watched the Chelsea game as well and the difference between him and Reece James… I just couldn’t stop thinking that they let this kid go. Now, naturally, they had their reasons for letting him go but I think if it was £3m then that is a snip.
"This kid looks like he only wants to improve and he only wants to get better, he wants to go to the next level. So he looks like he has got a real bright future ahead of him." Unfortunately for Lamptey, that bright future was severely dampened due to significant injury issues.
He's suffered nine different injuries in the last three years, which has seen him miss 90 matches. His struggles to keep fit saw him leave Brighton for Fiorentina but faced no further luck in his fight against injuries.
Potter speaks to Lamptey
The 25-year-old will look to rebuild his career at QPR(Image: Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)
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The Ghana international lasted just 22 minutes on his full debut for the Serie A after suffering an ACL rupture. He had only made a three-minute substitute appearance before that and ended up never playing for the club again.
He terminated his contract with Fiorentina by mutual agreement in May earlier this year and will now look to rebuild a once promising career with QPR in the Championship.