Is Wayne Rooney Right To Remain At Manchester United?

The reality was that Wayne Rooney was never going to rush into a lucrative move to China before next Tuesday’s transfer deadline but, by confirming his determination to “fight for success on four fronts” with Manchester United, he has bought time, both for himself and his club.

The statement issued by Rooney on Thursday was a cleverly worded communication. Yes, he will stay for the remainder of this campaign but, beyond that, his future remains open to interpretation. There was no insistence, for example, that he wishes to remain at Old Trafford until his current contract expires in June 2018.

But halting the current speculation is a sensible move by Rooney. It enables him to focus on the remaining three months of this season and regaining his place in Jose Mourinho’s team, while United’s manager retains the experience and goal threat — albeit a diminishing one — of the 31-year-old as the club pursues success in three cup competitions at the same time as attempting to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Mourinho’s “you need to ask Wayne” comments earlier this week, when asked if Rooney would still be at the club next week, did little to help clarify the situation and merely clouded the waters, but the United manager will have known that his captain was unlikely to walk out on just when the season is beginning to reach its decisive stage.

Moreover, Mourinho was hardly likely to sanction a departure next week, knowing that any injury to leading scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic would potentially scupper United’s ambitions on all four fronts if Rooney was no longer at the club.

If he can regain his form between now and the end of the season, he could persuade Mourinho and United of his value over the final year of his contract. Rooney is still a goal scorer and a creator; his five assists in the Premier League means he is level with Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho and Everton’s Ross Barkley in that category.

Rooney also has the prospect of collecting three more winners’ medals and winning the Europa League would give him the full set at United. Plus, given there are just over 15 months until the World Cup, which Rooney sees as his international swansong, there is still much to play for.

Beyond that, the future is uncertain for United’s record scorer. As reported by ESPN FC last Sunday, Rooney and his advisers have still to be convinced by the merits of a move to China. From a financial perspective, it ticks every box, but he has earned enough during a 15-year career to be able to make a decision based on quality of life rather than the size of his bank balance.

Further, he will be well-paid whether he stays at United or moves to another club in the Premier League or to MLS. Plus, if he takes either of those options, he will not face the cultural adjustment, both in terms of language and lifestyle, which lie ahead in China.

Once the season ends, the picture will become clearer for player and club. Both, at least, now have the time to make the right decision and not a bad one in haste.