‘Panic buy’ – Wayne Rooney questions two Manchester United transfer decisions

Wayne Rooney reacting to the Manchester derby (Picture: BBC)

Wayne Rooney questioned two Manchester United transfer decisions after the humbling derby defeat to Manchester City.

Man City once again earned bragging rights over their local rivals on Sunday, beating United 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium thanks to Erling Haaland’s brace and a Phil Foden header.

While City produced the perfect response to the consecutive defeats they suffered before the international break, it was a case of more of the same for United who continue to struggle under Ruben Amorim.

Old Trafford legend Rooney was disappointed if not surprised by the Red Devils’ display and immediately questioned why United did not sign Gianluigi Donnarumma in the summer.

Donnarumma was linked with a move to Manchester United after being banished by PSG but ended up signing for their rivals Manchester City for just £26m.

The 26-year-old, already a Champions League and Euros winner, enjoyed a bright debut for City, keeping a clean sheet and producing one of the saves of the season so far to keep out Bryan Mbeumo’s well-struck volley.

Altay Bayindir continued in the United goal with Ruben Amorim resisting the temptation to immediately turn to £18m deadline-day signing Senne Lammens.

Gianluigi Donnarumma reacts to Man City’s derby win (Picture: Getty)

But Rooney says it is a ‘concern’ that Amorim did not feel able to throw Lammens straight in and has questioned whether the young Belgian, who joined from Royal Antwerp, was a ‘panic buy’.

‘That was a worry as well… you don’t know if that was a panic buy,’ Rooney said on his BBC podcast.

‘I’ll be honest I don’t know too much about the new goalkeeper, I don’t think many of us have seen much about him. I’ll obviously do some research and have a look.

Manchester United’s deadline-day signing Senne Lammens (Picture: Getty)

‘But if you’re buying a new goalkeeper and he’s not ready to come in that’s a bit of a concern.

‘Obviously Donnarumma comes straight in and keeps a clean sheet. That’s the big difference and that was my point after the first game of the season when I said United should go and get Donnarumma.

‘Whether financially they could or he didn’t want to come on we don’t know but we’ve signed a new goalkeeper on potential, we’ve needed up with another project, and that’s always a bit of a risk.’

Manchester United’s derby defeat leaves them 14th in the Premier League – one place higher than they finished last season.

Discussing his former club’s form under Amorim, Rooney added: ‘I want to be as supportive and positive as I can be on the manager and the players.

‘But it is very difficult to sit here and say we are seeing progression, and at least we’re seeing things that will get results in the near future.

‘We’re seeing none of that, and it is very difficult. There was an image towards the end of the game where I saw the Manchester United fans leaving.

‘You could hear the fans singing Amorim’s name, but I think that is so powerful that the United fans were leaving the game.

‘You know the game is over and I think they were very disappointed in what they were seeing. It is hard to see how it continues.

‘What are the patterns? What are we seeing what might improve the team moving forward?’

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