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United immediately rejected the offer and left Chelsea in no doubt as to their position on the matter.
Chelsea said yesterday they had made a bid for Manchester United star Rooney, which has reportedly been rejected despite growing signs the England striker is unhappy at Old Trafford.
The London club took the unusual step of confirming a bid — for an undisclosed sum — after British reports said Juan Mata or David Luiz had been offered as a make-weight.
“Chelsea Football Club can confirm that yesterday it made a written offer to Manchester United for the transfer of Wayne Rooney,” said a club statement sent to AFP.
“Although the terms of the offer are confidential, for avoidance of doubt and contrary to what is apparently being briefed to the press in Sydney, the proposed purchase price does not include the transfer or loan of any players from Chelsea to Manchester United,” it said.
The wording of the statement takes an apparent swipe at Manchester United, who are currently in Sydney during their pre-season tour with a large contingent of British journalists.
It follows reports that Chelsea offered £10 million for Rooney, with either midfielder Mata or defender Luiz thrown in.
Rooney’s future has been the subject of considerable speculation since May, when departing United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said he had asked for a transfer. The statement was denied by Rooney.
However, the England striker has also refused to confirm his plans and the rumour mill went into overdrive when he left United’s Asian tour on the first day after picking up a minor hamstring injury.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho poured fuel on the fire by admitting he admired Rooney “very, very much”, forcing Manchester United manager David Moyes to repeat his assertion that the player is not for sale.
“It’s hard to keep repeating myself but I will do — Wayne’s a Manchester United player and will remain that,” Moyes said.
But on Tuesday Rooney was reported to be “angry and confused” about separate comments from Moyes indicating that he would be used as back-up to fellow striker Robin van Persie next season.
News of Chelsea’s bid broke as Mourinho began his second spell in charge with a friendly in Bangkok against the Singha All-Star XI.
The same team handed Moyes a losing start to his Manchester United reign when they shocked the Premier League champions 1-0 on Saturday.
Mourinho’s Chelsea are rated as the biggest threat to Manchester United’s title defence as Moyes attempts to follow Ferguson’s 27-year, 38-trophy reign.
But Rooney has reiterated his desire to leave the club this summer.
He has been left angered by recent messages coming out of Old Trafford, most noticeably new manager Moyes’s suggestion van Persie is his main striker.
The Scot said last week: “Overall, my thought on Wayne is that if for any reason we had an injury to Robin van Persie we are going to need him — I want as many options as possible.”
Rooney has expressed his disappointment to senior figures at the club and insisted he will not accept a squad role behind Dutch striker Van Persie.
Rooney — who has two years left on his contract — has also been linked with a move to Arsenal.
New Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho confirmed his admiration for Rooney in a BBC interview on Tuesday. But United have insisted Rooney is not for sale and Chelsea boss Mourinho must now decide whether to submit a fresh offer.
The Stamford Bridge club have been warned, however, not to return with a second bid as United have no intention of selling Rooney to another Premier League club.
Arsenal have already made an initial enquiry and remain in the frame despite also making offers for Luis Suarez and Gonzalo Higuain.
Mourinho is willing to sell Mata and Luiz, and hopes the inclusion of one of them in a deal will tempt United to sell up.
Rooney feels he is at the peak of his career and has nothing to prove after nine seasons at Old Trafford.
The England forward is understood to be “angry and confused” over comments by new manager David Moyes that he will not be sold because he provides important back-up for first-choice striker Robin van Persie.
The offending words were delivered to Sunday newspaper journalists during a briefing with Moyes in Bangkok last week.
Moyes said: “Overall, my thought on Wayne is that if for any reason we had an injury to Robin van Persie we are going to need him and I want as many options as possible.”
Since returning from United’s tour of the Far East and Australia for treatment on a hamstring injury last week, the 27-year-old has made his feelings known to the club.
He has re-iterated his desire to leave — having issued a similar message to Sir Alex Ferguson last season — and is now prepared to put in a formal transfer request.
Rooney wants to go this summer with the World Cup less than a year away, and sources close to the player say he has no intention of allowing his career to go backwards by being a squad member or playing second fiddle to Van Persie.
Moyes faces a dilemma now the player has raised the stakes but there seems little chance of him staying.
United have already discussed the possible scenarios and believe that out of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, the French champions would be their preferred buyer.
Mourinho added more fuel to his interest in Rooney on Tuesday by warning that England’s World Cup hopes could suffer if he stays at United.
Chelsea appear to have settled on Rooney as their main target after losing out on Radamel Falcao to Monaco and Edinson Cavani to PSG.
Mourinho said: “If Wayne is a second choice for Manchester United, then the national team will be affected.”
He also said that Rooney is “a player I like very, very much.”
He added: “Being fast and direct, I like him very much but he’s a United player. From an ethical point of view I can’t speak about players from other teams.”
Those comments forced Moyes to reaffirm his stance that he would not sell a player he brought through at Everton.
“Unless I was speaking double Dutch last week, we said Wayne is not for sale,” he insisted.
“It’s hard to keep repeating myself but I will — Wayne is a United player and it will remain that way.
“Jose said in his comments that he doesn’t normally talk about other players. But it does happen.”
Rooney must now consider whether he takes the next step and puts in a transfer request.
He arrived at Carrington yesterday morning as he recovers from his slight hamstring injury along with Nani, Nemanja Vidic and Nick Powell. — BBC Sport-Mailonline.
Online Reporter