Wayne Rooney believes it was as though Manchester United's famed youth academy 'didn't exist' during Jose Mourinho's time in charge of the club.
United have earned and continue to maintain an unrivalled reputation for producing players from within and giving them ample opportunities to shine on the biggest stage, with many going on to enjoy storied careers. As a result, the link between the senior side and the youth ranks was always close during the days of Sir Alex Ferguson, in which the fabled Class of 92 went on to win a historic treble in 1999.
Rooney was well accustomed to the strong relationship during his many years at Old Trafford under Ferguson but he admits that it completely disappeared when Mourinho took the helm in 2016, with Scott McTominay the only academy graduate to go on to play substantial minutes for the club after making his debut under the Portuguese.
