According to a report by Daily Post Nigeria, on Saturday October 24, 2026, Manchester United great Wayne Rooney has urged manager Michael Carrick to consider how Sir Alex Ferguson handled Cristiano Ronaldo when addressing Bruno Fernandes.

Rooney believes the United captain may benefit from a short break after a demanding season and a lengthy World Cup campaign.

The former England striker made the suggestion after Fernandes reportedly questioned Carrick’s tactics following United’s 4–1 Champions League defeat to Como.

Speaking via The United Stand, Rooney recalled that Ferguson would sometimes give Ronaldo time away from the pressure of football so the forward could recover and return refreshed.

“Fernandes might need the manager to tell him to go on a little holiday because he had a long season and then a long World Cup,” Rooney said. “I remember Alex Ferguson did that with Cristiano Ronaldo. He would be recharging his batteries.”

Rooney’s comments point to the importance of managing players’ physical and mental fatigue, especially during a difficult run of results. Rather than treating Fernandes’ reported criticism as a problem in isolation, Rooney suggested Carrick should consider whether the midfielder needs time to rest and regain his energy.

United were preparing to face Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday. With pressure mounting on the club, Carrick will need his senior players focused and ready to help the team improve. A rested Fernandes, Rooney implied, could be better placed to contribute on the pitch and support the manager’s efforts to restore confidence.