Wayne Rooney insists he is not envious of free-spending Real Madrid and Manchester City.
United striker not jealous of rich rivals
Wayne Rooney insists he is not envious of free-spending Real Madrid and Manchester City.
The Manchester United forward is gearing up for the 2009/10 campaign in the knowledge that the Red Devils have enjoyed a relatively quiet summer in the transfer market.
Old Trafford has regularly been in the headlines, but it is the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez that have caught the eye.
Antonio Valencia and Michael Owen have been brought in, but United have kept a close eye on the purse strings.
That policy stands in stark contrast to that adopted by rivals Real and City, who have implemented summer overhauls of their respective squads.
Rooney, though, insists United remain in good shape, claiming Sir Alex Ferguson had little work to do on a side that is currently in the middle of a trophy-laden era.
"There is no element of jealousy at the money City and Real Madrid have been spending," he said.
"If our manager felt he needed to spend, he would.
Changes
"But I don't believe we need too many changes. We have won the league for the last three seasons and reached the Champions League final twice in a row, so why would we need five or six players?
"I think the manager has probably got it right."
Rooney is also hoping that he will benefit from the summer exits at Old Trafford, with the England international keen to fill a more central role this season.
He hopes his early season performances will help to back up his claims, with a well-taken goal during Sunday's Community Shield defeat to Chelsea certainly helping his cause.
"The manager has said I will play a more central role and I have said quite often that it is my preferred position," he added.
"I am not sure whether it will happen, whatever the manager says goes. But I was delighted to play there against Chelsea and I hope to stay there for most of the season.
"Put it this way, if I keep scoring goals from this position it will justify why I have been selected there and then I don't see any reason why he would play me out wide."
