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'Standout player' – Wayne Rooney hails Manchester United’s star of the season; player proves legend wrong

Originally posted on We All Follow United
By Rohit Sarkar | Last updated Oct 21, 2025 6:12 PM ET

Wayne Rooney christens Bryan Mbeumo as Manchester United’s best player this season

Manchester United’s summer overhaul raised more questions than answers when the new signings arrived at Carrington. The club invested heavily in rebuilding key areas, including the attack and goalkeeping departments, under Ruben Amorim’s guidance. Yet fans and pundits felt most sceptical about Bryan Mbeumo. Many wondered if the former Brentford winger could handle the pressure at Old Trafford. Time now provides a clear answer.

Early-season form dispelled the lingering doubts and earned praise. Senne Lammens took over the No.1 role from Altay Bayindir and recently explained how he helped Manchester United beat Liverpool. Mbeumo now drives Amorim’s frontline with spark and energy.

Against Liverpool, he struck inside the opening minutes. The Cameroon slipped behind Virgil van Dijk and calmly finished past Giorgi Mamardashvili. The goal silenced Anfield and set the tone for a 2-1 win that showed how much belief the team carries.

On his BBC podcast, Wayne Rooney admitted he doubted Mbeumo’s signing at first but said the winger proved him wrong. Rooney called him United’s best player of the season so far and praised his energy, sacrifices, and influence. The club’s greatest modern icon gave praise that carries real weight.

“For me, he [Mbeumo] has been Manchester United’s standout player this season, and he hasn’t got his rewards for his hard work and the sacrifices he’s made for the team. It was a great goal. I’ll be honest, I was a bit sceptical when United signed him. I didn’t know if he had the ability to come and play for Manchester United, but he’s proved me wrong. I think he’s been a great addition to the team and by far United’s best player of the season.”

Quote via: TEAMtalk

Mbeumo Proving Why United Needed Him?

The Red Devils need a quality, proven attacker with Premier League experience to strengthen their frontline, and that is why the club signed Mbeumo in the summer transfer window of 2025. Amorim wanted a winger like him to fit into his 3-4-2-1 system. Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund have been poor for United, and hence, they felt that it was time for the club to bring in an in-form attacker.

United received a huge upgrade due to the reliability of the 27-year-old. The Cameroon international put forward sensational stats for Brentford in the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, and this practically forced United to spend big bucks for Mbeumo. It now feels like it’s the smartest signing that United pulled off in the recent window.

Since joining, the 26-year-old has scored three goals and provided one assist in all competitions. He uses his pace, pressing, and movement to stretch defenders and add a decisiveness to the attack. Against Liverpool, the Cameroon international took three shots and created one clear chance, showing why Amorim trusts him.

In the coming months, United will rely on his consistency and runs to break down tight defences. He has raised the squad’s standard with his work rate. Mbeumo has displayed sheer confidence in big games and lifts his teammates.

With his form improving, we reported earlier that Bryan Mbeumo is also playing an integral role in helping Manchester United land Carlos Baleba. That shows how much influence he holds in Amorim’s project. For now, Rooney’s words ring true; Mbeumo isn’t just proving his worth; he is defining United’s new identity under Amorim.

This article first appeared on We All Follow United and was syndicated with permission.

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