The Red Devils captain has been a hot topic with Premier League and England supporters this season, with his influence for club and country hitting a new low.
Jose Mourinho, in recent weeks, has dropped his team's captain from his starting line-up, and Meulensteen believes the 31-year-old will find it difficult to accept a reduced role, because he still plays with the passion he had as a teenager.
Meulensteen told talkSPORT2: "It’s a case of does Wayne [Rooney] think that role is the role he wants to play, because I know Wayne has been so passionate and committed – he wants to play.
"Wayne is also, you know, pushing on and getting into his thirties; but in his heart, when he plays, he’s still 17.
"That is something – what I think – which will be for Wayne very hard to come to terms with, if he doesn’t start to play as regularly as he’s used to."
Reports have circulated in recent weeks suggesting Rooney could be forced to leave Old Trafford, of which Mourinho has been quick to rubbish, insisting he's going nowhere.
Meulensteen, however, states Mourinho must clarifiy the exact role the forward will have at the club from now on.
The Dutchman added: "Obviously [Jose] Mourinho is now coming out and, basically, counter-attacking all the rumours that Wayne is leaving, and this, that and the other.
"If that is the case, then I think that’s the thing that needs to be sorted out. It needs to be clarified to Wayne what exactly his role is going to be.
"The next chapter is whether Wayne is ready to accept that."
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