Just when one thought the Wayne Rooney saga couldn’t get more boring, confusing and cringeworthy, the story has apparently managed to tick all three boxes, with the United striker seemingly on the verge of resolving his future and, mercifully, let us all forget about one of the most grotesque transfer sagas in recent years.
By now we’re all more familiar with the story than we’d ever wished to be, so let’s not waste too much of your Sunday morning and focus simply on the new (ish) details, as they’ve emerged over the last 24 hours.
According to reports, Rooney’s departure is likely to be imminent as Chelsea are poised to offer £40m for the 27-year-old, who yesterday completed 45 minutes in United 3-0 win in a friendly behind-closed-doors against Real Betis and who’s scheduled to appear in Stockholm on August 6, as United take on AIK, and then at Old Trafford for Rio Ferdinand’s testimonial three days later.
Chelsea’s first offer was unceremoniously rebuffed by United, but a £40m offer for a player who clearly wants out of the club, could be too financially appealing to be turned down, despite the fact that United are normally unwilling to sell to a direct rival and that many suspect that, under Jose Mourinho’s tutelage, Rooney could rediscover the form of days gone by.
Rooney is understood to have no personal grievance with Moyes, but the prospect of having to fight for a starting spot is rather unappealing to the United number 10 who, claims another newspaper, is expected to hand in an official transfer request sometime this week, in order to sort his future out as quickly as possible.
With less than a month until the transfer window shuts, Rooney is well aware that he needs to act swiftly if he is to find himself a new club ahead of the forthcoming campaign and, considering that United have publicly stated their intention to keep him, a transfer request could finally set the wheels in motion.
“It is now clear that Wayne has made up his mind about leaving United,” said an unspecified – false? – source reported by two of the main national newspapers. “It has nothing to do with David Moyes. He simply feels that he needs a new challenge.
“The talk around the club has been that he will officially ask for a transfer in the next week.”
The tedium, meanwhile, continues.
