Wayne Rooney: 'No freedom for Henrikh Mkhitaryan at Manchester United'

Wayne Rooney has claimed that Henrikh Mkhitaryan was never awarded "freedom" to play during his failed stint at Manchester United.

The Everton forward played alongside Mkhitaryan for a season at Old Trafford before returning to his boyhood club last summer.

In January, Arsenal sealed the signature of the Armenian international from United in a swap deal that resulted in Alexis Sanchez moving in the other direction.

During an appearance on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, Rooney said: "I saw it a lot in training, he is a quality player. I think at United he did not get the freedom he really wanted to perform like he did at [Borussia] Dortmund. I really do think he will kick on."

Mkhitaryan starred against Rooney's Everton by creating three assists in a 5-1 rout over the Toffees on Saturday.