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To some, Manchester United legend Paul Scholes can come across as a bit of a grumpy old man.

He seems much more likely to make a criticism, than to offer a compliment, since he’s become a pundit of the game.

He’s already made controversial remarks about Wayne Rooney and Jack Wilshere and we are sure that other stars are likely to get both barrels from The Ginger Prince over the next few years.

But whatever you think about the demeanour of the ex-Manchester United star he does seem to get most calls right when it comes to football.

And we feel that he is absolutely spot-on again with his latest comments regarding Manchester United.

The Mail quotes him talking about the future captaincy of the team:

‘I think he [Van Gaal] will give it [the captaincy] to Robin [Van Persie]. He’s had a lot of experience with him from Holland. He knows him well, knows him as a player, but personally I would probably go for Rooney.

‘He’s always struck me as the type who could be a captain and now is the perfect time to give him the responsibility I know he is capable of taking.

Of course Rooney should be made captain. Van Persie is a brilliant professional. But Rooney has been at the club, through thick and thin, for ten years. Yes, he’s had his moments of wanting to leave. But that was purely down to his concerns over the future of the club in footballing terms.

Rooney wants to win everything and in that respect he totally mirrors, and is a spokesman for, the fans of Manchester United.

We all talk about the lack of loyalty in the modern game – the ever growing band of mercenaries who move purely for the bigger buck.

But what does it do for the already disintegrating notion of player fidelity in football when a player, who has risen through the ranks at Manchester United for ten years, is overlooked and the armband instead given to someone who has spent just two years at the club?

A player who, lest we forget, was linked with a move away from Manchester United, at the first sign of trouble, and who was branded a mercenary for leaving Arsenal?

We think that RvP is a fantastic player and one who immeasurably improves Manchester United on the park.

But Wayne Rooney has bled for the cause for ten years. He’s dragged United through so many games. He’s been the best defender, midfielder and attacker at the club for a decade. He’s turned deficits into draws and draws into victories on innumerable occasions. If there is one current player who embodies the club it’s surely Wayne Rooney.

If anyone else but Wazza was given the armband it would not only be a hugely unpopular decision but also yet another indictment of the modern game.

Manchester United fans: are we agreed on this?

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