England icon Wayne Rooney has dismissed one potential idea that was conjured up about Manchester United in the lead-up to this summer’s World Cup in North America.
The 2026 World Cup concluded last weekend after Euro 2024 champions Spain defeated 10-man Argentina in the final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Ferran Torres was the difference-maker in extra time and 2022 World Cup champions Argentina fell short in their title defence this summer.
England, on the other hand, finished third at the FIFA tournament after Thomas Tuchel’s men defeated France 6-4 in a stunning play-off match last Saturday.
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Wayne Rooney on England handing Thomas Tuchel a new contract amid Man Utd’s links to the Three Lions boss at the time
The Football Association (FA) made the major call to award Thomas Tuchel a new England deal back in February ahead of this summer’s World Cup tournament.
Tuchel’s initial contract would have expired after the competition and the 52-year-old German had been heavily linked with Manchester United in the past.
Man Utd had sacked Ruben Amorim back in January and the Red Devils were on the hunt for a new manager before Ineos installed Michael Carrick as interim boss.
Speaking after the World Cup, Wayne Rooney doesn’t agree with the theory that the FA handed Tuchel a new contract because clubs like United were linked with him.
“Yeah, no, of course that could be the case, but I still think that’s a bit strange, because then if something happens like this has happened [England’s World Cup exit], then you’re tied into it, ‘Oh, you’ve got to sack him,’” he said on BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show.
“But for me, I think he is a top-class manager, and what the top managers do: they learn from the mistakes, and they improve and get better.
“So, from my point of view, I don’t see anyone else out there at the minute, unless you go and get Pep Guardiola.
“If Pep Guardiola is available, then maybe you go and get him, but I still think we stick with him. I said this before: I think he’s [Tuchel] made mistakes with the squad selection.
“You can’t expect to win a World Cup without having a squad who are just happy and happy around the camp.”
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Ineos reinforced Wayne Rooney’s assessment by moving past Thomas Tuchel and appointing Michael Carrick at Man Utd
Ineos had a long history with Tuchel, which dated back to 2024 after Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s regime saw him as a potential replacement for Erik ten Hag.
However, Tuchel was only one of the many names linked with United in early 2026 alongside the likes of Carlo Ancelotti, Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola.
When former Chelsea boss Tuchel inked his deal with England, the Red Devils simply moved forward with their hunt for a new long-term replacement for Ruben Amorim.
Ineos were not hung up on the Three Lions boss and did not make any more attempts to land him ahead of the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
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