ROO WON’T BE A MERCENARY

WAYNE ROONEY was right to reject the riches of the Chinese Super League – because it is full of mercenaries.

Rooney (right) could earn the kind of cash in China that has made Carlos Tevez the highestpaid footballer in the world. But a deal has never materialised.

And Carlton Palmer, who coaches the children of former Chelsea stars Oscar, Ricardo Carvalho and Demba Ba at the Wellington College in Shanghai, insists that the CSL is no place for serious footballers.

Palmer said: “I knew Rooney wouldn’t come out here. His time at Manchester United may be coming to an end, but he still has so much to offer and he will stay in the Premier League. “Wayne Rooney is someone who cares about football and still wants to play for his country. The cash on offer over here might be fabulous, but the standard of football isn’t. I have no doubt that will change over the next few years, but the players who are already here are after one thing: money.

“The authorities need to get the infrastructure right. Until then they will only be able to attract mercenaries – and that isn’t the way to build a league.”

Palmer, 51, added: “I have to be careful because a lot of the players send their kids to the school I work at. I spoke to Oscar last week and I asked him why he has given up the Premier League for China.

“He was on serious money at Chelsea and must already be a multi-millionaire, so I can’t understand it.

“I have spoken to Demba Ba and Obafemi Martins about the same thing and they just smile, shrug their shoulders and rub their hands together.”