Shaw offers experience, versatility and a proven record at the highest level. He has played at major tournaments for England and remains capable of operating as a conventional left-back or stepping into a more advanced role.
Rooney’s argument is not simply about reputation. It is about replacing a withdrawn defender with someone who already understands the demands of international football. “I would have liked to have seen Luke Shaw,” the former Manchester United and England forward said, making clear that he viewed the omission as a missed opportunity.
Tuchel, however, may have been weighing balance, fitness or tactical flexibility rather than experience alone. That is the part of the decision that will face the closest scrutiny when England’s tournament plans take shape.
Away from international duty, Mason Greenwood is reportedly close to a permanent move from Marseille to Roma. The proposed deal is said to be worth about £35m plus bonuses, with salary terms reportedly agreed.
The transfer would mark another step in Greenwood’s career away from Old Trafford and could also provide Manchester United with a sizeable financial return through the sell-on arrangement negotiated when he left.
Yet the move should remain described as pending rather than complete. Final terms, formal approval and the player’s arrival in Italy still need to be confirmed.
Rooney’s intervention puts pressure on Tuchel to explain the thinking behind Shaw’s omission, while the Greenwood transfer underlines how quickly United’s past decisions can return to the headlines.
The next England squad update will reveal whether Tuchel changes course. In Italy, attention will turn to whether Roma can complete the reported Greenwood deal and close another complicated United chapter.