Given Louis van Gaal's reputation, it's difficult to envisage Wayne Rooney kicking up a storm if his role at the club is reduced to being Robin van Persie's back-up.
Van Gaal and Van Persie, evidently, have vast amounts of respect for each other - as witnessed during the World Cup - and with the forward, 30, intent on playing on beyond his 40th birthday, there is no reason to think he will be marginalised by his former international head coach.
Rather, in contrast to David Moyes's mishandling of the situation last year, Van Persie will, in all likelihood, be Van Gaal's No.1 striker. This leaves Rooney in limbo.
He will either have to accept that his status as a marquee name at United has passed its sell-by date and fall in line as one of the group - something he has shown he can do in the past, but permanently? It is difficult to say.
If Van Gaal can get Rooney back on form and playing like he did in 2009-10 - albeit in a reduced role, United will have a fearsome frontline.
The problem, though, is if, as seems likely, Van Gaal prefers to stick with Van Persie. One of Moyes's big mistakes, as recited by Rio Ferdinand during the World Cup, was putting all his faith in Rooney and neglecting the Dutchman. After a poor World Cup, Rooney's value as a starter has diminished, as seems to be the case in his career of peaks and troughs.
Rooney is also on an enormous contract at United and though shuffling him down the pecking order would make a big statement, Van Gaal would be wise to try to keep the England striker onside. At least in the early months of his reign at Old Trafford.
The other option is to sell the 28-year-old, which would act as a warning to the star names who underperformed last year.
Rooney is no longer untouchable but given his on- and off-pitch transgressions down the years at Old Trafford, logically it makes sense for Van Gaal to keep the forward in his plans. The balancing act will be tricky.
Van Gaal and Van Persie, evidently, have vast amounts of respect for each other - as witnessed during the World Cup - and with the forward, 30, intent on playing on beyond his 40th birthday, there is no reason to think he will be marginalised by his former international head coach.
Rather, in contrast to David Moyes's mishandling of the situation last year, Van Persie will, in all likelihood, be Van Gaal's No.1 striker. This leaves Rooney in limbo.
He will either have to accept that his status as a marquee name at United has passed its sell-by date and fall in line as one of the group - something he has shown he can do in the past, but permanently? It is difficult to say.
If Van Gaal can get Rooney back on form and playing like he did in 2009-10 - albeit in a reduced role, United will have a fearsome frontline.
The problem, though, is if, as seems likely, Van Gaal prefers to stick with Van Persie. One of Moyes's big mistakes, as recited by Rio Ferdinand during the World Cup, was putting all his faith in Rooney and neglecting the Dutchman. After a poor World Cup, Rooney's value as a starter has diminished, as seems to be the case in his career of peaks and troughs.
Rooney is also on an enormous contract at United and though shuffling him down the pecking order would make a big statement, Van Gaal would be wise to try to keep the England striker onside. At least in the early months of his reign at Old Trafford.
The other option is to sell the 28-year-old, which would act as a warning to the star names who underperformed last year.
Rooney is no longer untouchable but given his on- and off-pitch transgressions down the years at Old Trafford, logically it makes sense for Van Gaal to keep the forward in his plans. The balancing act will be tricky.
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