Wayne Rooney's is a story of regret and unfulfilled potential

In the sixth standard, my much-loved English teacher tried to soften the blow of her imminent departure from the school by telling all of us that “Familiarity breeds contempt”, and that this way, we would remember her fondly.

To my eleven year old brain, I’ll admit, that sounded like a big pile of steaming bullshit; no disrespect to you, ma’am.

And even if I spent a pointless hour with my dad that evening as he tried to explain to me that my teacher had had a profound moment in the unlikely company of a bunch of kids, she certainly accomplished something few others ever could that day– permeate my unwillingness to learn anything from within the confines of a classroom.

Which is why my mind keeps going back to that saying every time I think of the situation Wayne Rooney finds himself in today. And why my next question is to all the Manchester United fans out there – is this the reason why you people are so casual in your disregard of the man?

Do you not comprehend that within your ranks is the most highly regarded English player since a certain Paul Gascoigne was tearing into a Scotland defense at Euro ’96?

Have you forgotten those glorious early days, in the aftermath of a whirlwind Euro’04 that saw him take to the Manchester United colors with a confidence few have ever managed?

As the teams lined up in the tunnel at Old Trafford for his debut, in a Champions league encounter against Fenerbahce, it drew this response from a knowing commentator “Its not often that Manchester United or the Champions league are upstaged by anyone or anything, but Wayne Rooney’s debut for the country’s most famous club, and in the continent’s most famous competition, lends tonight’s match a real sense of occasion”.

And what an occasion it turned out to be! A sensational hat trick in front of a crowd that was mouthing “Rooney..Rooney..Rooney” well before a ball had even been kicked on the night, and the name of Wayne Rooney was already one that was synonymous with Manchester United.

As he dispatched the free-kick that would give him his third goal on the night with a disdain that was reminiscent of a certain Frenchman not so long ago, the commentator declared – “Its Rooney. Its inevitable! Some things are just meant to be…”

Meant to be indeed. The following years have seen him notch up 203 goals for Manchester United, just 46 shy of the mark set by the incomparable Sir Bobby Charlton. Undoubtedly, the chance to be on top of that list is a key element on the Pros column when Wayne takes out his clipboard every summer to contemplate a move away.

But why would a player of his standing even want to force a move away from one of the biggest clubs on the planet?

The fact of the matter is that Wayne Rooney is as much a victim of his stupidity off the football pitch, as he is of his versatility on it.

It is a cruel irony that Rooney found himself a victim of his genius, when that self-same quality has seen gifted players the world over emerge as the stereotypical lovable rascal to their home support.

I know, the inevitable fight is upon us now – that no player is bigger than the club. And yes, you are absolutely right. But all Rooney has so desperately wanted is what is rightfully his – the role of being Manchester United’s chief striker and goal-scorer. Or rather, the respect that goes with it.

You see, when he made that fatal mistake of saying that Manchester United “lacked ambition” all those years ago, what Rooney did not know was that he had touched a nerve in his manager – a mistake he would come to regret.

Sir Alex’s entire time at United had been in pursuit of a conquest to unseat Liverpool from the throne of being the most successful domestic side. To have a player question his very commitment to the club made an unwitting Rooney the bane of Sir Alex’s existence.

For though the wily Scotsman so very cleverly persuaded Rooney to stay, in a masterstroke of tact and man-management that had the world purring about the old master’s abilities, he would never again be at the forefront of his manager’s plans.

The arrival of Robin Van Persie, and his significant contribution as the Red Devils romped to a 20^th league title last time around, has given a section of United supporters the false impression that they do not need this Scouser in their ranks anymore.

Granted, it looked for a while like he would actually make the unforgivable transition to the blue half of Manchester, all those years ago. But then again, Wayne Rooney was never known to be the brightest egg in the nest.

What is he, undoubtedly, is Manchester United’s most potent attacking threat – even including a fit and firing Robin Van Persie. Sign a genuinely talented central midfield presence, and chuck Ashley Young off the team bus on the way back from your next away match, and we could well see the return of the Manchester United of old.

Oh yeah, you will have to worry about Young, though. He will be reduced to doing the one thing he unfailingly does at the first sign of trouble – and start diving in front of oncoming traffic in the hope of being rescued.

Sir Alex did miss a trick in his treatment of Rooney, but the master can be excused, if only because Rooney attacked the very driving force that kept the man at the helm for an astounding 26 years. For any player to do that is inexcusable, but then, Sir Alex has been known to have a soft spot for genius.

Eric Cantona’s time at United was characterized by a number of incidents that made it obvious that he got away with an awful lot that no player under Sir Alex ever did, before or since.

And while Rooney did go a little too far in that summer of youthful hotheadedness, a similar disposition toward the young man could have potentially seen Rooney emerge just as influential as a far more controversial Cantona was.

For all his achievements in the red of Manchester, I feel that Rooney has had to tailor his game far too much to be accommodated in the team. Remember those early days, when there was an air, rife with unpredictability and expectation, every time the prodigal Rooney was on the ball?

Especially in the aftermath of the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, handing Rooney the reins of the team, so to speak, and letting his natural game take center-stage, could potentially have seen Manchester United go that extra yard, especially on the European stage.

Today, with David Moyes still unsure how to handle his former protégé and Rooney himself non-committal with regard to his future at the club, it seems like only a matter of time before the name of Wayne Rooney is chanted by another group of fanatical supporters. And they will not quite believe their luck.

But it could all have been so different.