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Wenger believes Rooney will join Man Utd
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-07-05 09:20

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Manchester United will sign Everton's teenage striker Wayne Rooney, if only to keep up with big-spending Chelsea.

"I think Rooney will be a United player next season," Wenger was quoted as saying in the People newspaper on Sunday.

"They (United) know they have to act because Chelsea will do something big (in the transfer market) and they cannot afford to be left behind.

"I dream at night of bringing him to Arsenal but that's all it is, a fantasy. We cannot compete with the money he would cost so I just have to accept he is out of our reach," added Wenger, who led his team to the premier league title last season.

Rooney, 18, made a spectacular impact at Euro 2004, scoring four goals in two games for England before breaking a bone in his foot during the quarter-final defeat by hosts Portugal. His club said he would be sidelined for around eight weeks.

Everton chairman Bill Kenwright has been quoted as saying that Rooney's transfer value soared to 50 million pounds following his Euro 2004 performances.

"(Manager) David Moyes and I agreed Wayne has to be a 50 million pounds player now," Kenwright told the News of the World. But the Everton chairman also said he would turn down any bid for Rooney.

Frenchman Wenger described Rooney's Euro 2004 displays as "amazing".

"I cannot remember seeing anything like it before," the Arsenal boss told the People. "I knew he was very good but I didn't think it was possible someone so young could dominate so much.

"You have to say he is amazing. To have that much ability at such a young age takes your breath away."



 
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