Rooney: 'I am staying at Manchester United'
Wayne Rooney released a statement Thursday saying he won't leave Manchester United in the foreseeable future, vanquishing rumours he could join the Chinese Super League before its Feb. 28 transfer deadline.
"Despite the interest which has been shown from other clubs, for which I'm grateful, I want to end recent speculation and say that I am staying at Manchester United," Rooney said in the statement released by the club.
"I hope I will play a full part in helping the team in its fight for success on four fronts. It's an exciting time at the club and I want to remain a part of it."
Rooney's agent Paul Stretford was apparently in China on Wednesday seeking a lucrative contract for his client. Talks with Tianjin Quanjian were believed to have taken place, but didn't reach an advanced stage, as manager Fabio Cannavaro claimed United's all-time top goal-scorer "simply doesn't suit our style of play."
Reports of a prospective move to Beijing Guoan, which has Brazil international Renato Augusto in its ranks, were understood to be false.
The Red Devils captain indicated he'll now assess his situation at the end of the campaign, with Jose Mourinho's lot still competing for four different pieces of silverware. On Sunday, United faces Southampton in the League Cup final, with matters in the Premier League, FA Cup, and Europa League currently undecided.
How much influence Rooney, 31, will have in those title pursuits remains to be seen. The England skipper has fallen out of favour under Mourinho after failing to impress in a No. 10 role behind the effervescent Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and hasn't started a league match since mid-December. In Rooney's stead, Paul Pogba appears liberated, while Juan Mata and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have impressed. The latter fell to an injury in Wednesday's 1-0 win at Saint-Etienne, however, potentially paving the way for Rooney to be reintroduced from his deepening groove on the substitutes' bench.
His fruitless recent struggle for minutes marks a significant downturn in fortunes for Rooney, who cost United £27 million from Everton in 2004. He's won five Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League crown in Stretford, and his current contract - worth an eye-watering £300,000 a week, according to BBC Sport - expires in the summer of 2019.