Former Republic of Ireland international Andy Townsend feels that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has not been a good signing for Manchester United when it comes to getting the best out of Wayne Rooney, while he also believes the Red Devils captain will be looking for others to step up.
Rooney has come in for fierce criticism for a series of lacklustre performances and Manchester United suffering poor results in recent games. Jose Mourinho's men have now lost three on the trot, capped off by going down at Watford on Sunday.
There have been calls for Rooney to be dropped, but Townsend feels the England star is attracting unfair criticism, while he stressed the signing of Ibrahimovic has not been tailored to get the best out of the former Everton man.
Townsend explained that Rooney is never going to be the player he was five years ago and needs to be complimented at the stage of his career he is currently in.
"I don't think Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been a good signing for Wayne Rooney", Townsend said on BBC Radio 5 live.
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"I think with where he wants to play and how he wants to play, I don't think that's the sort of player who is going to enhance Wayne's career at this stage.
"I think everyone has to get a little bit real with Wayne Rooney. If they are expecting to see him get better [than he was five years ago]…."
Townsend also feels that Rooney has every right to expect his underperforming team-mates to show improvement, rather than leaving him to carry the can for Manchester United's poor form.
"I'm sure Wayne Rooney is sitting there and looking at some of the others and thinking 'when are you going to start, when are you Anthony Martial going to get out there and stop falling over every two minutes and knock a few in the back of the net, when are you Jesse Lingard, when you get an opportunity, going to take it by the scruff of the neck instead of cowering and your head disappearing inside your shirt?'
"That's what I'd be thinking if I was Wayne Rooney. Looking at others and saying when will you step up?
"People look at Rooney because of massive money, because he's an elder statesman in that team. He needs others around him, which is why I say about Ibrahimovic", the former midfielder continued.
"Ibrahimovic is just going to score goals because he's got genuine class and presence. He's not going to run around. This Man United team is lacking legs and that enhances the problems for Wayne Rooney."
Manchester United are next in action in an EFL Cup match against minnows Northampton Town on Wednesday evening and it remains to be seen whether Rooney plays.
They are in Premier League action again on Saturday when Leicester City are the visitors to Old Trafford.
