Rooney rules out United comeback despite calls
WAYNE Rooney has ruled out a comeback at United, saying he will end his career in the MLS after some United fans called for him to return.
United and England’s record goalscorer was speaking to the press after his controversial call-up to Gareth Southgate’s squad for the friendly with the USA.
Rooney hasn’t played for England in two years, but will win his 120th cap as a substitute at Wembley tomorrow night to recognise his contributions for the national side.
Rooney left United in 2017, spending a season at boyhood club Everton before moving to the USA this year to play for DC United. And his impressive performances for the MLS side led to some United fans suggesting he could make a surprise return to the club in January.
United’s former captain led DC United to the MLS play-offs with 12 goals and six assists in 20 appearances and with Romelu Lukaku struggling for form they believed Rooney could be the answer. However, those fans won’t get their wish as he confirmed he will not be making a return to the Premier Leauge.
“I made the decision to obviously go to the States,” he said. “When I make a decision, I tend to stick to it. It’s important that I give my full commitment to DC.
“I am not prepared to [return to the Premier League]. I will finish my career there.”
Rooney also hit back at people who had criticised the decision to hand him his 120th cap.
“Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We haven’t done anything like this before but I hope in 10-15 years time we’re sat here for someone like say Harry Kane, who could go on to get the goalscoring record,” he said.“I am not asking people to agree with it.” UNITED have been active in each of Jose Mourinho’s January transfer windows.
There were the high-profile departures of Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay in 2017 and the acquisition of Alexis Sanchez 10 months ago.
United have previously described January as a ‘sellers’ market’ but maintained that if the right player becomes available they would not hesitate in making a move for them. Such as Sanchez.
Mourinho ended the summer without two of his four priority targets UNITED will not progress unless they sack Jose Mourinho, pundit Chris Sutton has claimed.
Pressure has been mounting on the United manager this season and following the 3-1 defeat to City at the weekend, Sutton claims the club need to get rid. “United were outclassed. It was like watching Manchester versus Manchester and you only have to look at United’s goals conceded column to guess one was a centre-back.
The Reds might have to shatter their own defensive record if they are to reinforce their backline in January.
The United squad is riddled with dead wood but a winter cull is unrealistic. They do need to buy and sell, though. Here, we look at who they should target, and who they should look to off-load...
TOBY ALDERWEIRELD THERE was one telephone call between Ed Woodward and his Tottenham counterpart Daniel Levy in the summer. Tottenham were enquiring about Anthony Martial and Juan Mata yet United did not entertain the possibility of selling either player.
United’s interest in Toby Alderweireld was conducted through intermediaries as far as the final days of the transfer window but they could not reach a breakthrough.
Woodward’s hesitancy to deal with Levy directly was similar to how United negotiated the club-record signing of Juan Mata from Chelsea in January 2014. United had rejected offers from Chelsea for Wayne reserves,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. “There is an enormous gap between them and City, and things aren’t going to change unless they change the manager.
“What was most galling for me were Mourinho’s comments after the game - kicking off, behaving like a big baby. When is it going to stop?”
Mourinho’s been critical of the board this season for not getting him the players he wanted in the summer Rooney in the summer and Woodward declined a face-to-face meeting with Chelsea representatives to agree a transfer for Mata, since he felt it was inevitable talk would divert into Rooney territory.
Woodward was so strongly against selling Martial it is possible he avoided direct contact with Spurs regarding Alderweireld to avoid a swap arrangement. It would also account for United’s sudden interest in Harry Maguire.
Now Martial is United’s highest scorer this term, a frontrunner for the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award and United are negotiating a new long-term contract with the Frenchman. If Woodward seals that new deal before January then he may pick up the phone again. United should not be fazed by Levy when Alderweireld is seven months away from having his £25million release clause triggered.
He turns 30 in March and the United hierarchy have distanced themselves from Mourinho’s ‘shortterm’ recruitment strategy. Yet the days where a player’s decline began at 30 are over and United have shipped 21 goals in 12 Premier League games. A FORWARD IDEALLY, a right winger. Bernardo transfer window, namely a new centre back. However, Sutton believes the United manager shouldn’t be given the funds he wants when the transfer window opens again in January.
“Mourinho has been banging on about money but is United’s form this season acceptable?” Sutton said. “He’s been talking about how much City have spent but they have to catch Watford and Bournemouth Silva would have been ideal 17 months ago but Mourinho never showed any concrete interest in the silky Portuguese.
United showed interest in then Bordeaux winger Malcom last season but dropped their interest once Alexis Sanchez became attainable and the Brazilian joined Barcelona in the summer. Willian has hovered on and off United’s radar during Mourinho’s time at the club but that seems to be a non-starter in January.
The interest in Malcom stemmed from United dedicating more resources to the French market and scouts have watched Bordeaux again this season. And Lille, where the 23-year-old Ivory Coast international Nicolas Pepe is generating a buzz. And yes, he is a right winger.
MATTEO DARMIAN MOURINHO’S ‘emergency player’ has played once all season and that was in the Premier League opener. United did not receive a suitable offer for Darmian in the summer and a high-level source said he hoped the Italian would stay since he is a ‘great professional.’
Darmian is technically approaching the last six months of his contract but United have the option of an first. And when you look at the signings he has made, how many have actually been a success?
“Has he spent the money well? I don’t think so. Why should the United board trust him to spend well in January?” Reports in The Sun claim Mourinho will be sacked if the club fail to finish in the top four come the end of the season and that Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is being lined up to take over.