• Premier League

Rooney: Welbeck was right to leave

ESPN staff
November 21, 2014
Giroud or Welbeck?

Wayne Rooney has admitted Danny Welbeck was probably right to leave Manchester United but said it will be "weird" to see him lining up against his former team on Saturday.

Welbeck, a Mancunian and a United fan who graduated from the club's academy, joined Arsenal for £16million on the final day of the summer transfer window.

And his former strike partner Rooney feels it will be strange to see him in an Arsenal shirt at the Emirates Stadium.

"Of course, Danny has been here all of his life," Rooney told MUTV. "He is a Manchester lad so it is weird seeing him [there]. But that's football nowadays and players move on."

Welbeck only scored 29 goals in 142 matches for United, although he was sometimes used as a winger and a substitute and found himself granted fewer games as a striker after the 2012 arrival of Robin van Persie.

And Rooney thinks his England team-mate Welbeck is still too unselfish, but believes he is benefiting from the chance to play as a centre-forward for Arsene Wenger's team.

He added: "I think, for Danny, and for his own personal career, it was probably the best move for him. He's done great and scored a few goals and is playing well. Danny gives you what he always gives you - a good shift. He works hard for the team.

"At times, as I said to him, he works a bit too hard but he's scoring goals and he's doing well."

United manager Louis van Gaal said on Thursday that he stood by his decision to sell Welbeck.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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