Manchester United are reportedly willing to sanction Wayne Rooney’s departure to China within the next month. A host of Chinese clubs have made it clear that they are prepared to make a record-breaking £140m offer for Rooney.
According to reports from the Mirror, Rooney could overtake £650,000-a-week Carlos Tevez as the world’s highest paid footballer. The move has been approved by Jose Mourinho and the United hierarchy.
Mourinho said recently that Rooney still has an “important” role to play for United. However, the money put on the table could be too tempting for United to refuse straightaway.
China’s mega-rich clubs can recruit players until February 28, which means United still have four weeks to make a decision on Rooney. The Chinese clubs, no doubt, will tempt to bring Rooney, who has become the club’s record goal scorer, to Asia before the next Chinese Premier League season starts in March.
Rooney has 18 months left on his current £300,000 a-week contract. There is a growing feeling that the former Everton striker could leave the Old Trafford giants.
United will save more than £20m on wages, as the club is looking to put together a package to sign Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann in a world-record £100m deal next summer.
Rooney has been a great servant for United, and has won every possible trophy with the club. Although, he still retains the hunger to succeed at the top level, the England skipper looks past his best. It is time for him to move on.
A move to China will cast doubts about Rooney’s international future. Rooney has 119 caps for England, and has broken Sir Bobby Charlton’s record with 53 international strikes. The United skipper has announced that he will quit international football after the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
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