Wayne Rooney's agent Paul Stretford held talks in China on Thursday, amid mounting speculation over the Manchester United captain's future, British media said.
Rooney, 31, has recently fallen down manager Jose Mourinho's pecking order, heightening expectations he could leave United for the mega-rich Chinese Super League. Guangzhou Evergrande, Beijing Guoan, Jiangsu Suning and Tianjin Quanjian are said to be among those clubs interested in United's all-time top scorer.
Manchester United's Wayne Rooney during the FA Cup fourth round match between Manchester United and Wigan Athletic in Manchester, England on January 29, 2017. /CFP Photo
British media have reported that he could earn up to one million US dollars a week, making him the world's best paid player. However, it remains unlikely that any move would be completed before the Chinese transfer window shuts next Tuesday.
Rooney missed Wednesday's Europa League last-32 second leg in Saint-Etienne through injury, but dominated conversation in France.
Mourinho said that Rooney's future was in his own hands, in comments at his pre-match press conference that only fueled the speculation surrounding the striker.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho gestures as Wayne Rooney is substituted on during the second leg of the EFL Cup semifinal between Manchester United and Hull City on January 26, 2017. /CFP Photo
"You'll have to ask him," Mourinho said. "You have to ask him.”
“Of course I can't guarantee (he will be here). I can't guarantee that I'm here next week, how can I guarantee that a player is here next season?” Mourinho continued.
"What I can guarantee is that if Wayne one day leaves the club it is not because I want him to leave the club. That's the only thing I can guarantee," said the manager. “I would never push – or try to push – a legend of this club to another destiny.”
Pushed on whether it was possible Rooney could leave in the next week, Mourinho retorted: "You have to ask him, not me. I was very open with you in the answer. I don't want him to leave."
Wayne Rooney poses with a golden boot to mark his 250th Manchester United goal, which saw him break Bobby Charlton's club record, ahead of the FA Cup fourth round match between Manchester United and Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford on January 29, 2017. /CFP Photo
Rooney's current deal at Old Trafford runs until mid-2018, with United holding the option to extend it by a further year. He is United's record goalscorer and has won five Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy since joining as an 18-year-old for 27 million pounds from Everton in 2004.
A return to boyhood club Everton and move to Major League Soccer could be other avenues for Rooney, but are unlikely to offer wages anywhere near that available in China.
Former United teammate Carlos Tevez, ex-Chelsea midfielder Oscar and former Watford striker Odion Ighalo are among those to have recently made big-money moves to the Far East.
However, a switch to China could bring Rooney's England career to an abrupt end. The country's all-time top scorer has won 119 caps and is closing in on Peter Shilton's record of 125 appearances. Rooney has already announced plans to retire from international football after next year's World Cup in Russia.
(Source: AFP)
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