Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has given Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney a stark ultimatum regarding his future – telling the forward ‘the story needs to be finished’.
Speculation has been rife since the beginning of the transfer window that the unsettled 27-year-old will take his talents south to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have already had two bids for the England striker rejected and with just a week of the summer transfer window remaining Mourinho feels it is time for Rooney to declare his intentions.
“We are not so silly as to try to get a player from a big club, a club that doesn’t sell what they don’t want to sell, we are not so silly as to try to do something if somebody didn’t start it,” said Mourinho.
“I think the person that started the story has to finish the story, to one side or the other side.”
However the Portuguese’s newly-appointed counterpart David Moyes has insisted Rooney will be playing for the Red Devils next season.
After last night’s goal-less draw between the clubs, the Blues’ boss added: “He was a real professional. He played for his club, the club that pays him, and tried to win.
“He tried to score. He played a fantastic match in difficult circumstances and I praise him. You have to say it was fantastic because many players in this situation can’t express themselves.”
Rooney’s performance in the Monday night clash prompted Moyes to compliment the striker and the fans in the way they supported him.
Moyes said: “I was very pleased with his performance and I was very pleased with the reaction from the crowd.”
If Rooney does decide to stay in the red half of Manchester the Chelsea boss is believed to have Cameroonian striker Samuel Et’o ready to commit to the Blues.
Picture courtesy of Tsutomo Takasu, with thanks.
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