Several years ago, very few Manchester United supporters would have even heard of Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala. However, nowadays, the club are one of the most frightening forces in world football and possess arguably the biggest spending power in the game. Bearing this in mind, some fans may have reason to be slightly worried after it was reported that this club may soon turn their attention to United striker Wayne Rooney.
There has been plenty of media focus on Anzhi through recent weeks, with the club in the same group as Liverpool in the Europa League. Such a fact has meant that many have had plenty of time to study their team and staff and realise that not only are they managed by one of the best managers in the world in Guus Hiddink, but they also possess some exceptional quality such as Samuel Eto’o and Lacina Traoré.
As well as the above individuals, Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos has enjoyed an association with the club after firstly arriving as a player. While he now works behind the scenes at Anzhi, he is the man who has revealed that Rooney could be on Hiddink’s radar.
Speaking to Sky Sports News he said, “Why not? He’s one of the best players in the world and any team would be happy to have him in their squad. He’s still a very young player. Of course I could not say when, and if, it will happen. It’s not only Anzhi who want to buy him. There are plenty of teams in Italy and Spain, all over the world, who are eager to have a player like Rooney. This person (Kerimov) is capable of doing everything. If the owner of Anzhi has a wish to buy somebody, he will go and do it.”