For the most part of his career, iconic striker Wayne Rooney has been an integral part of Manchester United as much as the club has been to the Englishman. However, all that appears set to change in the coming weeks, with the Liverpudlian believed to be on his way out of Old Trafford.
The 31-year-old Rooney started off his Manchester United career back in 2004, when he was brought in by then United boss Sir Alex Ferguson from boyhood club Everton for no less than £25m. It was a staggering fee, considering Rooney was only 18 years old at that time. For the legendary Old Trafford boss, however, the fee was worth buying “England’s most promising young talent”.
After a month-long wait after his transfer, Rooney finally made his Manchester United debut on the 28th of September, in the Reds’ Champions League game against Turkish giants Fenerbahce. Rooney would go on and win that game for his new club, scoring a hat-trick and laying an assist to hand United a smashing 6-2 win over their opponents. It was in that game that the impressionable young striker introduced himself to Manchester United.
Fast forward thirteen years later, it appears Rooney is about to make his goodbye. According to The Telegraph, the England international has grown disillusioned by his lack of playing time under new manager Jose Mourinho, despite previous promises he would play a central role under the Portuguese tactician.
Rooney is currently the club captain, but has only featured in 17 league appearances for the Red Devils. The last time he completed a full 90 minutes for the team in the league was in September of last year.
Fearing he no longer has a role to play in the club, Rooney is thought to be weighing his options and is intrigued by the prospect of playing for the Chinese Super League. China’s transfer window is set to close next week and the former Everton striker could opt to leave England before then.
Mourinho, for his part, has maintained he wants the striker to stay at the club, but stopped short of assuring the player a spot in the team or guarantees that he will stay.
“It is not a question for me because I am happy to have him. I don’t want him to leave,” Mourinho said.
“Of course I can’t guarantee [he will be here]. I can’t even guarantee that I’m here next week, how can I guarantee that a player is here next season?
“[But] I would never push – or try to push – a legend of this club to another destiny. So you have to ask him if he sees himself staying in the club for the rest of his career or if he sees himself moving,” the United manager concluded.
Rooney, who is currently United’s all-time leading goal scorer with 250 goals in 549 appearances, is indeed a United legend. However, whether his legendary story ends at Old Trafford or continues elsewhere, at this point, is still up for debate.