Paul Scholes tells Ruben Amorim that 'important' Man Utd ace can play in 'Wayne Rooney type of way' with one key change

Paul Scholes is now convinced that Ruben Amorim could have a Manchester United player showing shades of former teammate Wayne Rooney with one major tweak.

The 50-year-old Manchester United legend shared the pitch with Red Devils icon Wayne Rooney for both club and country during his legendary playing career.

Rooney became United’s all-time leading scorer and the 39-year-old England legend is widely regarded as one of the best Premier League strikers of all time.

The United icon had a remarkable playing career at Old Trafford and he remained at the Red Devils long after former manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.

During his prolific time at United, Rooney lifted five Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, a Europa League, an FA Cup and three League Cups.

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Paul Scholes uses Wayne Rooney to send a major message to Man Utd manager Ruben Amorim about Bruno Fernandes

Wayne Rooney, who retired from football as a player in 2021, called it time on his legendary Manchester United spell in 2017 and returned to boyhood club Everton.

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Ruben Amorim has found himself in the spotlight – for one of many reasons – over his handling of Red Devils skipper Bruno Fernandes in the 2025-26 campaign.

Bruno Fernandes has dropped into a deeper role in Amorim’s tactical system for United, with the club captain mainly playing alongside Casemiro in the midfield.

The 31-year-old Portuguese midfielder’s influence has waned in the deeper role and Fernandes’ lack of impact over proceedings has been brought into question at times.

Paul Scholes now believes that Fernandes could be Amorim’s answer to a Rooney-type player if the United manager plays him in an advanced position on the pitch.

Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “If you watched some of the Europa League games last year, he was really good in that [deeper] position, so he can do it.

“I think if you asked him to do everything, then he would try to do it all, almost in that Wayne Rooney type of way as well.

“But I think with him playing in that deeper-lying area, it is taking away some of the important qualities that he has further up the pitch.”

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Paul Scholes’ feelings on Bruno Fernandes could not be clearer after Ruben Amorim’s position change for the Man Utd midfielder

Bruno Fernandes’ role in the midfield pivot has had a knock-on effect for Kobbie Mainoo, who has lost his place in the United starting XI under Ruben Amorim.

The Portugal international dropped into a deeper position in the 2025-26 season after United signed Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in the summer window.

Scholes believes that Fernandes’ influence is so important for the United first-team that the Red Devils captain should be playing in an advanced position on the pitch.

“He is the most creative player on the team, he should be playing as the No 10, there is no doubt about that,” he said.

“But he is being asked to do something different. It is normal for a No 10 like he is to be able to do it for two or three games, to fill in when a midfielder is injured or suspended or something.

“But then you get a little bit bored of going back into position to defend.”

Fernandes has made five appearances across all competitions for United this season and the former Sporting CP midfielder has only netted once for his side so far

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