Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has thrown his support behind co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s blunt critique of the club’s current squad, asserting that “massive changes” are essential to reverse the Red Devils’ fortunes. Rooney’s comments, made on March 13, 2025, come in the wake of Ratcliffe’s outspoken remarks earlier this week, where he labeled some of United’s high-profile players as “overpaid” and “not good enough.”
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, Rooney, United’s all-time leading goalscorer, did not mince words. “They need massive changes to the squad,” he said. “I think 10-15 players need to leave the club. Obviously, they can’t do that all at once, but there is a mentality there where no one is taking responsibility.” The former captain, who won five Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy during his 13-year tenure at Old Trafford, suggested that the current squad lacks the leadership and resilience needed to compete at the highest level.
Rooney’s remarks echo Ratcliffe’s assessment, delivered in a series of interviews with outlets including the BBC, The Times, and The Overlap on March 10 and 11, 2025. The Ineos billionaire, who acquired a 28.94% stake in Manchester United in 2024, singled out big-money signings such as Jadon Sancho, Rasmus Hojlund, Casemiro, Antony, and Andre Onana as examples of players whose transfer fees continue to burden the club’s finances. “Some are not good enough, some are probably overpaid,” Ratcliffe told the BBC, emphasizing that these deals were “inherited” from previous management and that reshaping the squad would “take time.”
Currently languishing in 14th place in the Premier League with just 36 points separating them from leaders Liverpool, Manchester United’s season has been a disaster so far. With their hopes now pinned on a Europa League campaign, the pressure is mounting on head coach Ruben Amorim, who succeeded Erik ten Hag in November 2024. However, Rooney pointed to deeper systemic issues beyond the managerial hot seat. “They look lost, they look scared,” he said of the players. “Bruno [Fernandes] is the one who keeps producing, he annoys you at times but keeps producing. But the rest? There’s no way back for this squad as it stands.”
Ratcliffe’s comments have sparked a mixed reaction. While some fans and pundits applaud his candor, others see it as a risky move that could further destabilize an already fragile dressing room. Amorim, responding to Ratcliffe’s remarks on March 12, 2025, acknowledged the squad’s underperformance but challenged his players to prove the co-owner wrong. “If we are being honest in this moment, everybody—me, the players—are underperforming this season,” Amorim said ahead of United’s Europa League last-16 second-leg tie against Real Sociedad. “The focus is to change his mind and everybody’s.”
Rooney’s call for a major overhaul aligns with Ratcliffe’s broader vision to restore Manchester United to its former glory. The co-owner has already implemented significant cost-cutting measures, including slashing up to 450 jobs and ending Sir Alex Ferguson’s £2 million-a-year ambassadorial role. On March 11, 2025, Ratcliffe also unveiled ambitious plans for a new £2 billion stadium, signaling a long-term commitment to revitalizing the club. However, he warned that financial constraints, including outstanding transfer fees exceeding £300 million for players signed before his arrival, would limit United’s activity in the 2025 summer transfer window.