England Assistant Coach Gary Neville believes that Wayne Rooney is the most important player in the Premier League and that his club Manchester United must not sell him.
"Manchester United, at this moment in time, would be mad to sell him," Neville said, according to ESPN. "Along with Robin Van Persie, he has been the most successful player in terms of goals and assists in the last five years of the Premier League...Even last year, which you could argue was a year he was below his best, but he was playing in midfield, playing right side, left side, he still had 22 goals and assists. He is a massive contributor to games and you can't replace personalities. There are very few personalities in football now, big personalities, fighters, he is one of them."
The Rooney transfer drama is one of the best documented sports stories this summer and has featured offers from Chelsea and constant statements from the club about the player's status. Rooney reportedly wants to move to Chelsea but Neville thinks that Manchester United would be unable to replace him.
"You can't just buy them, you might argue you could replace them in respect of the numbers he creates but in terms of personality, what he brings, very difficult to replace him," Neville argued. "I could argue in the last eight years, he has been the most important player in the Premier League. Why would I be over the top by stating that? He is one of the most successful players in the last eight years, won the most championships in that period, been an ever present, played in every single game nearly every season.
"Scoring 20 plus goals in most of them, assisting, fighting for every single ball in every single game. The evidence is there - they don't grow on trees Wayne Rooneys."
"I don't see how Manchester United can sell him at this moment in time. I really don't because they won't be able to replace him," he concluded.