Rooney to call shots on United departure
WAYNE ROONEY will dictate his departure from Manchester United, and China is his likely destination in the summer.
Chinese Super League clubs Jiangsu Suning and Beijing Guoan are attempting to sign the 31-year- old before the close of their transfer window on Tuesday but the prospect of a sale now is highly unlikely. However, as Sportsmail revealed yesterday, Rooney’s exit at the end of the season after 13 years at Old Trafford looks certain.
Rooney had envisaged seeing out his contract at United, which runs until 2018, yet his diminishing playing opportunities have prompted a re- evaluation. That was underpinned by Jose Mourinho’s comments on Tuesday when he refused to give any guarantees that Rooney will be at the club much longer.
The manager’s blunt assessment is understood to have taken his club captain’s advisers by surprise as they plan how best to handle the end of his Old Trafford career. Rooney believes he can play a significant role this season and beyond in the Premier League but is loath to play for another English side apart from Everton. The Goodison Park club have discussed re- signing their former academy star but his £235,000-aweek basic salary plus image rights bonuses mean it is unrealistic without Rooney taking a substantial cut of more than £100,000 a week.
China appears the most viable option and some of his United team-mates believe he is close to taking that decision. He can command in excess of £35million a season in the Super League, making him the world’s best-paid player. Paul Stretford, Rooney’s agent, was on a flight from Manchester to Brussels on Tuesday morning. Less lucrative options for Rooney could materialise in the US. While MLS clubs are reluctant to bring in more imports over 30, new side Los Angeles FC are keen on him and David Beckham’s Miami franchise could launch in 2018.
Speaking on BT Sport before United’s Europa League victory in Saint-Etienne last night, Paul Scholes said: ‘It does look like he’s going to be going somewhere, I just don’t see China as the right place for him. He’s a family man, I think America might be more suited to him.’
However, fellow pundit Michael Owen said: ‘Maybe Everton, but then you could be taking a 70 per cent pay cut. China changes everything. If he’s going to go I think that’s where he’ll go.’