Former Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney has given his backing to Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka, describing him as "probably the signing of the season". The Black Cats have made a strong start to their return to the Premier League, sitting fourth after 11 games with 19 points. Xhaka's leadership skills and experience have been instrumental in Sunderland's success so far. He has played every minute of all their league games, scoring once and providing three assists.
Rooney praised Xhaka for his ability to inspire and motivate the team, saying he "has been brilliant". The 33-year-old former Arsenal midfielder joined Sunderland from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer for an initial £13m. Rooney believes Xhaka's arrival will be a huge boost for the manager and the young players at the club.
Xhaka has also demonstrated his adaptability, making the transition to a new league and team with ease. He played a crucial role in Arsenal's FA Cup wins under Arsene Wenger but was often criticized by fans for his perceived arrogance on the pitch. However, Rooney believes Xhaka's character and work ethic have shone through during his time at Sunderland.
Rooney also highlighted Xhaka's experience, saying he has "been a big help" to the team. The former Arsenal midfielder made 297 appearances for the club, winning two FA Cups. Despite being sent off five times during his time at Arsenal, Xhaka became an important player under Mikel Arteta and played a key role in Leverkusen's Bundesliga title win.
Sunderland's strong start to the season has caught the attention of many, with Xhaka at the helm. Rooney's endorsement of the captain is a testament to his influence on the team. With the Black Cats looking to secure their place in the Premier League, Xhaka will be crucial in guiding them to success.
Rooney praised Xhaka for his ability to inspire and motivate the team, saying he "has been brilliant". The 33-year-old former Arsenal midfielder joined Sunderland from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer for an initial £13m. Rooney believes Xhaka's arrival will be a huge boost for the manager and the young players at the club.
Xhaka has also demonstrated his adaptability, making the transition to a new league and team with ease. He played a crucial role in Arsenal's FA Cup wins under Arsene Wenger but was often criticized by fans for his perceived arrogance on the pitch. However, Rooney believes Xhaka's character and work ethic have shone through during his time at Sunderland.
Rooney also highlighted Xhaka's experience, saying he has "been a big help" to the team. The former Arsenal midfielder made 297 appearances for the club, winning two FA Cups. Despite being sent off five times during his time at Arsenal, Xhaka became an important player under Mikel Arteta and played a key role in Leverkusen's Bundesliga title win.
Sunderland's strong start to the season has caught the attention of many, with Xhaka at the helm. Rooney's endorsement of the captain is a testament to his influence on the team. With the Black Cats looking to secure their place in the Premier League, Xhaka will be crucial in guiding them to success.
I'm loving this! A proper leader on and off the pitch, Granit Xhaka seems to be really making a difference at Sunderland 
19 points after 11 games is no joke, he's definitely been brilliant for that team! 
And it's great to see him getting recognition from someone like Wayne Rooney who knows what they're talking about 
️ What I'm excited to see now is if Xhaka can keep the momentum going and lead Sunderland all the way to safety 
I gotta say, Granit Xhaka seems like a solid signing for Sunderland 
Still, I'm gonna keep an eye on them and see if Xhaka can help them secure their place in the Premier League 
and I think he's a huge reason why they're sitting fourth after just 11 games 
and his experience is invaluable 
. It's not easy transitioning to a new league and team but Xhaka seems to have taken it in stride 
. Can't wait to see how the season unfolds! 
. He's been doing a great job as captain and his leadership skills are super inspiring 
.
. Let's keep cheering for them and Granit Xhaka! 
. I mean seriously tho, Sunderland's doing so well and it's all thanks to Xhaka's leadership skills 
. Rooney seems really confident in his abilities and i think that's what makes him so good 
. I love how he's brought that same work ethic and character to the Black Cats 
. Now, can we talk about Sunderland's chances of staying in the Premier League? I think they've got a good shot at it 
. He's got that leadership quality and experience that you can't teach, and it's great to see him inspiring the team like this 
. He's not one of those players who's going to fluff up or lose his form when things get tough. What do you think about Sunderland's start to the season so far?
so he's def got the skills. Rooney's endorsement is all i care about rn 
. I'm curious to see how the rest of the season unfolds, but for now, I'm rooting for Sunderland all the way 
!
. I'm hyped for the rest of the season, Xhaka's gonna be instrumental in gettin' those three points 
The way he's adapted to this new league and team is incredible, and his experience really shows. Rooney's right, he has been brilliant! 
️
Granit Xhaka finally found a club where he can use those leadership skills and experience without being roasted by fans lolol. I mean, who knew 33 was the new 25? 
. Guess all those FA Cups were worth it after all 
. And let's be real, 297 appearances for Arsenal under Arsene Wenger speaks volumes about Xhaka's skills 
. That's some juicy info that could've changed the narrative about Xhaka's character 
. And where's the proof of all this "leadership skills" and "motivation" he's providing for Sunderland? Some stats, maybe? 
... I need to see more than just Rooney's opinion before I'm totally sold on Xhaka being "the signing of the season" 
.