Wayne Rooney has urged Pep Guardiola to extend his decade-long stay at Manchester City, calling him the “benchmark” for the Premier League.
However, with Guardiola’s future beyond this season still uncertain, Rooney has already identified the perfect successor: Vincent Kompany.
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the former Manchester United captain argued that the current Bayern Munich boss is the natural heir to the throne.
“If Pep does go, they have to go and get Vincent Kompany,” Rooney said. “He knows the club… it looks like he has learned from Pep.”
Rooney also weighed in on the 2026 title charge, predicting Arsenal will narrowly beat City to the trophy.
Despite the Gunners recently drawing with Wolves, they sit five points clear of City.
Rooney noted that a potential “quadruple header” of meetings—including the Carabao Cup final on March 22 and a pivotal league clash on April 18—will decide the champion.
As for his preference? The United legend was candid: “I would prefer Arsenal to win it… for me, Liverpool are the ones I wouldn’t want to win it and then it would be City.”
