Tanvir Juneja
Rumours about Wayne Rooney’s offer to leave Manchester United for China was so big even that whole footballing world was shocked!
The Red Devils skipper was the subject of speculation during the winter transfer window after there were reports of a massive offer being lined up for him from an undisclosed Chinese Super League club. Rooney’s friend TV personality Piers Morgan made it public that the Chinese interests weren’t just media talk but a real transfer proposition.
The club in question was most likely Shanghai Shenhua. The offer held substance more so because of Shanghai SIPG head coach and ex-England boss Sven Goran Eriksson’s apparent desire of seeing Wayne ‘Wazza’ Rooney playing in China. Although, star players leaving Europe for huge sums of money is no surprise story to any of us any longer, the astounding figure that was offered to Rooney would have trumped them all. Piers Morgan, in his latest Daily Mail column, revealed a conversation with Wazza getting a response from him that it was a three-year deal with as many as “eight noughts”, suggesting a minimum of £100,000,000 for the length of the contract. Morgan described the number as being “so stupendously stratospherically gigantic that it did indeed make me feel instantly nauseous”. He further added, “I literally gasped in horror, prompting him to add a final killer blow: ‘After-tax!'” But despite the financial incentive, he doesn’t see Rooney leaving Old Trafford for another year or two.
The 30-year old’s upcoming United testimonial looks rather far than to be lurking around the corner beating the sound of “Is it time to sell Rooney for a new striker?” for the fans. Rooney favourites, obviously look at the question differently like “Why Man Utd shouldn’t give up on Rooney just yet?” considering him reaching something like his best level in the season recently until an injury layoff halted him in his tracks. But the question prevails even though subconsciously due to his struggling form earlier in the season. Slated for a return to action post-injury after the next international break at the end of the month, the Red Devils could be looking at future blues surrounding the exit of their highest-scoring forward, Sir Alex’s protege, Master Wayne’s final days at Manchester.
One would argue, Wayne Rooney has been the face of Manchester United for what feels like decades. That’s going to make his split with the club painful no matter when it occurs yet now seems like an ideal time to make his graceful exit and it is clear that he isn’t the player he once was, and certainly the club isn’t as successful as it has been in years past. It’s been a horrid year for United under manager Louis van Gaal and most believe that big changes are coming at Old Trafford. One of those big changes should be the addition of a new first-choice centre-forward. That’s not to say that Rooney doesn’t have anything left. He still is a technically brilliant player who can be an effective Premier League players. However, it does not mean that he should hang on at United until he’s no longer able to perform at the minimum level required. He should go out while he still has the majority of his football ability left.
What the fans think?
He should stay at Old Trafford to help Van Gaal alleviate the side from Champions League dumps, Premier League top-4 finishes and certain domestic cup wins. While he has a lot of top-notch capability to get on the score sheet, he belongs to the Red Devils at Manchester. Also, when it comes to consider the prospect of a younger, better, dynamic and a fast striker to come to the club, who, obviously wouldn’t be as prolific as Wazza because we all know there is hardly anyone except an Alan Shearer and a few others on the all-time top scorers list, there must be a positive step taken.
A little birdie has just sparked a few rumours about the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s possible move to United amid his contract expiry at PSG this year or maybe a Dortmund star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is believed to be high on the wishlist or even loaning a certain Atletico star Antoine Griezmann. All these could get the job done at the front end for United.
With rumours rife that Manchester United will look to cut ties with Louis van Gaal sooner rather than later, it has not stopped the club from reportedly making moves in the transfer market as they prepare for life after the Dutchman. Jose Mourinho remains the favourite to succeed Van Gaal at Old Trafford, with the Portuguese manager still out of work following his sacking by Chelsea and the question looming above Rooney’s future would drastically change then.
Rooney’s current contract runs out in 2019. For all we know, he could follow in the footsteps of ex-England team-mates Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard by finishing his career in another country.
When the most popular club in the world needs its most long-standing face in a challenging period, rough patches would come and go but Wayne Rooney must be there to witness and help the youngsters in the squad to absorb the pressure and truly demonstrate what it is like to win from within to stay on the club that nurtured you into a global household sensation. Also, might Sir Alex Ferguson enquire and have a say to Rooney about this? Yes, maybe!
