Wayne Rooney raves about one Arsenal player he thinks is simply ‘amazing’

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Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has opened up on his admiration for the ‘amazing’ Bukayo Saka while highlighting Arsenal’s Premier League talisman as a big part of England’s future. 

We’ve been here before, of course. But, still, it feels a little different this time. 

England are not only going into a major tournament with some of the brightest young talent in European football at their disposal, they are also going into a major tournament with a handful of rising stars who have proven themselves to be genuine match-winners at international level in the recent past. 

Jude Bellingham has been as influential under Gareth Southgate as he is under Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid. Marcus Rashford scored three times for the Three Lions at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. 

Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, meanwhile, netted the first hat-trick of his senior career in England colours, Southgate’s side thrashing North Macedonia 7-0 in a qualifier back in June. 

“We’re blessed in England at the minute with so many young players,” Rooney, who’s international career peaked when still a teenager at Euro 2024, tells Lyes Bouzoudi on his YouTube channel.

“You look at Bellingham, Saka who I think is amazing, Rashford, (Phil) Foden. There’s so many good young players. And hopefully they are the players who can bring the trophy back.”

With 13 goals and 13 assists in all competitions, Saka’s numbers this season are the envy of most forwards in the game. Not even Rashford, Vinicius Jr, nor Rafael Leao – who is a leading target to replace Kylian Mbappe at PSG, HITC Football understands – can keep pace with a man who Arsenal will look to above all others in the midst of another title charge. 

Saka is ‘ahead of Phil Foden’

“I do think (Saka) is a top-class player,” Martin Keown, a three-time league champion under Arsene Wenger, tells talkSPORT (16 February, 11am).

“I think he’s ahead of Foden. At this moment, Foden is playing incredible football but I would play Saka on the right-hand side for England.

“I think he’s a top player, there is no doubt about that. (He and Gabriel Martinelli) are still the two main players, and he’s top quality. Let me tell you, he can go right to the top. It’s all in front of him.

“The sky is the limit.”