'Such a good player' - Wayne Rooney says Man Utd should have re-signed £16m star

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney (Picture: Getty)

Wayne Rooney believes Manchester United should have re-signed one of his former Old Trafford teammates.

Ex-United manager Louis van Gaal made the decision to sell academy graduate Danny Welbeck in 2014 .

Welbeck had made 142 appearances for the Red Devils but Van Gaal said his goalscoring record did not meet the club’s standard and was keen to make room for incoming signing Radamel Falcao.

Arsenal signed Welbeck for £16m but the striker endured a frustrating spell in north London before enjoying the best period of his career at current club Brighton .

Welbeck hit double figures in the Premier League last season and already has six goals this term after scoring again in Brighton’s 3-0 win over Leeds United on Saturday.

The 34-year-old’s form has raised hopes of an England recall ahead of next summer’s World Cup and Rooney has urged Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel to ‘have a look’ at his former teammate in the next international break.

Rooney says he is ‘stoked’ to see Welbeck continuing to thrive well into his 30s and even believes Manchester United should have brought him back to Old Trafford.

Danny Welbeck is in the form of his life (Picture: Getty)

‘I’m stoked, he’s been on fire,’ Rooney said on his BBC podcast . ‘I absolutely love Daniel, I love him.

‘He’s been such a good player in the Premier League. Man United should have brought him back because he scores goals and he works hard.

‘I think over the last couple of years I would have really have liked to have him back. I think now United are going a different way and have hopefully turned a corner.

‘But I would have wanted him back over the last few years. He seems settled at Brighton so I just hope he keeps scoring goals and hopefully gives himself the best chance possible to get back in the England squad.’

Rooney and Welbeck were teammates at Old Trafford (Picture: Getty)

Asked what he made of Welbeck when they were Manchester United teammates, Rooney added: ‘He was brilliant. Honestly he’s such a lovely person.

‘He pressed really high and was aggressive and quick with it. Really clever, good feet and he scored goals. I can’t speak highly enough of him.

‘He has had injuries in his career which probably hindered him a bit but he seems to be fit now and he’s showing his ability.’

Welbeck has not played for England since 2018 but Rooney believes the Brighton forward deserves a recall.

England boss Thomas Tuchel (Picture: Getty)

With England record goalscorer Harry Kane still at the top of his game , Tuchel is looking for back-up to the Bayern Munich striker and Rooney says Welbeck fits the bill.

‘He’s having a purple patch at the moment and he’s putting himself in a position where Thomas Tuchel will definitely have to look at him,’ Rooney said.

‘Behind Harry Kane, he’s probably the best or most in-form striker from England so he’s given himself a chance.

‘I’m not saying Daniel will happily accept being on the bench but other players might want to push Kane for that starting place which I don’t think it realistic but Daniel could go, a bit like Jordan Henderson, and use his experience around the squad.

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‘But also he’s got the ability to come on and have a big impact. Thomas Tuchel definitely needs to look at him, for sure.

‘In the next international break I wouldn’t even call Harry Kane up, give him a rest, and have a look at some other players like Welbeck, Watkins and Toney.

‘There’s not too many opportunities left now before the World Cup so Tuchel needs to have a look at some of these players.’

Comedian and co-host of the Wayne Rooney podcast Kae Kurd also believes it was a ‘massive mistake’ for Manchester United to sell Welbeck.

‘I never wanted him to leave,’ the United fan said. ‘I thought it was a massive mistake that Welbeck and Jonny Evans were allowed to leave.

‘Those guys had played with the likes of Wayne and you need that continuity of players who knew what it was like to play for United.

‘Danny knew the club inside and out. I never wanted him to leave and wouldn’t be against a cheeky bid for him now.’

Another Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand, recently criticised the Red Devils for not blocking Welbeck’s transfer exit .