Cantona fires Rooney warning
Eric Cantona has warned United's stars to beware the pitfalls which befell Robbie Fowler.
Club legend Eric Cantona has warned Manchester United's young stars Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo to beware the pitfalls which befell the career of Robbie Fowler.
The gifted Frenchman is an advocate of the flamboyant duo but believes neither will fulfil their world-beating potential unless they heed the negative trappings of the Anfield striker's chequered career
Cantona is a particularly fond admirer of the talents of Rooney but admits he is concerned the England international's lifestyle may compromise a flourishing potential.
"I love Rooney as a player. But I am a bit worried," Cantona told the Daily Telegraph.
"Rooney can become the best player in the world at 25 or 26 if he knows that in football you need to be strong, train hard, go to bed early, be careful what you are eating, what you are drinking and what you do in life.
"That is very, very important. All the best players in the world knew all the time that these things are very important.
"I am worried that, at 25 or 26, he could be out of the best teams, out of England and out of the 100 best players - completely out.
"I am sure Alex Ferguson is very strong and will help. Rooney is still young but somebody needs to say it to him."
Despite Fowler's recent return to Liverpool - the club where he first made his name as one of England's most prodigious strikers - Cantona believes the 30-year-old's career is indicative of a talent wasted.
"Fowler was so good at 18 and four or five years later he was finished, not even [playing regularly] for England. Completely out. Why?" he added.
Cantona has also earmarked Ronaldo as an international star in the making but has warned the Portuguese that he must show greater desire to improve a relatively modest goal output.
"Cristiano Ronaldo could score more goals. He gives a nice cross from the right or left but he doesn't go for goal," added Cantona.
"What does he have to do, he has to run 30 yards. He is young, he can improve.
"Ronaldo could become one of the best if he wants to score goals. He does a lot of things right but he could score maybe ten more goals during the season."
