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Monday 17 March 2025 14:00
Ayden Heaven looks like he’s been playing at Manchester United ‘for years’, according to our record goalscorer Wayne Rooney.
Rooney, who was on punditry duty with Match of the Day 2 on Sunday, has been impressed with the impact that Heaven has made during his short time on the pitch, since signing from Arsenal last month.
The young central defender caught the eye during last week’s 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad and retained his starting berth at Leicester, again appearing calm and composed on and off the ball before he had to be substituted with a serious-looking injury.
Wayne has been particularly impressed with how our no.26 has dealt with the weight of the red shirt – something he has first-hand knowledge of from his own career.
“It’s a huge football club and at this time now, when maybe it’s not going right, to come in and play at 18 – it’s a lot of pressure, because those expectations are on you from the first minute,” said Rooney.
“But I think from the games he’s played he’s been fantastic.
“I came in as an 18-year-old at United and you do feel that pressure, but to come in as a centre-back – which is obviously a position where you can’t afford to make mistakes, otherwise you get punished – is very difficult.
“He looks like he’s been there for years and that’s the biggest compliment I can give him.”
Heaven only made one senior appearance for the Gunners but was part of the club’s Academy for five years, having joined from West Ham in 2020.
Rooney believes that grounding will have helped him make the transition to Old Trafford, where he’s standing out due to his all-round abilities at the back.
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) March 16, 2025
“He’s come in from Arsenal, so he knows what it’s like to be at a big club,” he added. “I think that will have helped him, but he doesn’t look like he’s playing with pressure.
“He looks calm, he looks composed. He gives them good balance obviously with his left foot. He looks quick and he looks like he likes defending, so I think he’s a real coup for Manchester United.”
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Monday 17 March 2025 14:00
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