Roo’s pride at captaincy role

WAYNE Rooney expressed his pride at being named Manchester United captain by manager Louis van Gaal.

The Barclays Premier League club announced after the 2–1 pre–season friendly win over Valencia that the 28–year–old was to be given the armband, with Darren Fletcher named vice–captain.

Rooney spoke earlier this year of his ambition to skipper both United and England.

Nemanja Vidic’s departure to Inter Milan and Steven Gerrard’s international retirement have opened up the possibility that both could now become a reality for the former Everton man.

“It is a huge honour for me — and for my family — to be named captain of this great club,” he said.

“It is a role I will perform with great pride. Team spirit has always been very high in our dressing room and I am very grateful to the manager for the faith he has shown in me.

“I look forward to leading the team out on Saturday at our first match of the new season."

Van Gaal has been impressed with the England striker’s approach since taking over at Old Trafford earlier this summer and believes he will give his heart and soul to his new role.

“For me, it’s always very important, the choice of captain,” the Dutchman said.

“Wayne has shown a great attitude towards everything he does. I have been very impressed by his professionalism and his attitude to training and to my philosophy.

“He is a great inspiration to the younger members of the team and I believe he will put his heart and soul into his captaincy role.”

The United boss was not fully satisfied with his team’s display against Valancia, but took confidence from the final outcome in his first match at Old Trafford as Marouane Fellaini struck an injury–time winner to maintain the Red Devils’ 100-per-cent record in pre–season.

Rooney had missed a penalty before Fletcher's deflected shot put United ahead in the second half.

Rodrigo capitalised on Tom Cleverley’s mistake to equalise, but Fellaini, who had come on as a substitute, had the final word.

Meanwhile, United were today linked with Sporting Lisbon’s Argentina left-back Marcos Rojo.

Rojo’s international team-mate, Real Madrid’s Angel Di Maria, is also believed to be on the Reds’ radar.