Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has claimed that Wayne Rooney will leave the club if he fails to regain his starting spot.
Rooney has lost his starting eleven spot in the Manchester United under Jose Mourinho.
The Red Devils skipper has had to stay content with a rotational role this season – having started only eight Premier League games.
Scholes said that after being ‘the man’ at Old Trafford for so long, being a fringe player would be “killing” Rooney.
“If it carries on going the way it is, I can’t [see him staying another two years],” Scholes said in reference to Rooney’s contract.
“Maybe it will be re-assessed at the end of the season if he is in and out of the team.”
“I don’t see him as a player who will accept that. He will want to be at a team where he is playing every week.”
“It is a strange one. No one will be more frustrated than Wayne at not playing. Being a sub will be driving him up the wall. When he gets his chance he has to take it because he has real competition.”
“It will be killing him just coming in for the Europa League or the FA Cup. But it is up to him to get his head down and prove he can play in the big games.”
United face Saint-Etienne on Thursday in the first-leg of the last-32 round of the UEFA Europa League.
Rooney has been ruled out of the match along with Michael Carrick and Phil Jones.
However, Scholes feels that Mourinho can guide United to Europa League glory this season.
“This year with a top-four place not guaranteed, winning this competition is massive because it is a way into the Champions League.”
“There are still some decent teams in it, but the way United are playing now they are favourites to win it.”