admin
MANCHESTER. — Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will not be handing in a transfer request. Chelsea have failed with two bids for the England star and looked set for a third with manager Jose Mourinho saying on Monday night that Rooney had 48 hours to decide his future. Following United and Chelsea’s goalless draw, Mourinho said: “We are not so silly as to try to get a player from a big club, a club that doesn’t sell what they don’t want to sell; we are not so silly as to try to do something if somebody didn’t start it.
“The person that started the story has to finish the story. For the good of everyone it is time to finish the story. One way or another he has to say ‘I want to leave’ or ‘I want to stay’.”
It has been reported that Chelsea have players such as Anzhi Makhachkala’s Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o on their radar and when asked about how long Mourinho was willing to wait before moving onto other targets, the Portuguese said: “Twenty-four hours, 48 hours.”
Although Rooney was left “angered and confused” about his position at Old Trafford after manager David Moyes hinted the striker would not be his first choice this season, it seems the 27-year-old may have been reassured about his future.
Making his first start in the United XI for four months, Rooney produced a stirring display against Chelsea and his every move was cheered by the United faithful.
Moyes, who has insisted throughout the summer that Rooney would not be sold, said: “I was very pleased with his performance and I was very pleased with the reaction from the crowd.
“I think Wayne has a positive mind at the moment. I don’t think he needs to change. I think his performance said enough. I think his actions showed what he thought.”
Mourinho added: “Rooney was a real professional. He played for his club, played for the club that pays him, tried to win, tried to score. He was fantastic.
“After that, if he wants to leave, he has to say — or he decides now that he doesn’t want to leave anymore. But I praise him. He played a fantastic match in these difficult circumstances.
“They gave him fantastic support, it was good, it was nice — very English.”
Mourinho had earlier suggested his club’s pursuit of Manchester United striker Rooney may be at an end following the 0-0 draw between the teams on Monday night. — Sky Sports/AFP.
Online Reporter