It was the Premier Leagues worst kept secret in the summer of 2013 when Jose Mourinho attempted to capitalise on the transition at Old Trafford and make Wayne Rooney his first marquee signing of his second stint at Old Trafford. With Rooney reportedly disillusioned with life at the Theatre of Dreams, Sir Alex Fergusons parting shot let everyone know that the former Everton striker wanted out of the club. With David Moyes drafted in, speculation surrounding Rooneys future intensified, with the pair having been involved in a court saga regarding disparaging comments made in the England internationals autobiography about his former Everton boss. With Mourinho set to pounce for the England international, he urged Rooney to end the transfer saga by confirming where his intentions laid.
''The person that started the story has to finish the story. A club like us - we are not silly to try to get a player from a big club that doesnt sell what they dont want to sell. We are not silly to try something if somebody didnt start it. We need to know what is happening. - Jose Mourinho, August 2013.
In the end, Rooney stayed at the club, was given a new £300,000 p/wk contract and the captains armband, which begs the question - why would he ever want to leave? The truth is that Rooney is, of course, financially set for life even at the age of 28 years old. What will matter to a competitor like him the most is the competition and level of standard, the potential for tussling for silverware each season. At the moment, Chelsea can offer all of those things, plus a healthy salary, while Manchester United struggle to claw back into the top four during Rooneys peak. While his lesser team-mates keep shipping goals at Leicester City and MK Dons, maybe he rues not having sealed a move to west London last year?
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
