D.C. United's Rooney rules out offseason loan move

It doesn't look like Wayne Rooney will be following in past stars' footsteps during the Major League Soccer offseason.

The D.C. United captain revealed on Friday that he does not intend to procure a loan move during the winter break after a stellar first season in the U.S. capital.

"I've come here and I've committed myself to D.C. and that's why I want to give everything for D.C.," Rooney told ESPN's Sebastian Salazar.

"In the offseason, I'll stay here for a lot of that time too. My children are in school. I'll go back home probably for Christmas to see some family and friends but I'll come back. I'm committed to D.C. and I don't think it would be right for me to start flying back and forward to play on loan for another team."

If he does indeed remain in Washington after the conclusion of D.C.'s campaign, Rooney will be bucking something of a trend among MLS' stars of yesteryear. The likes of David Beckham, Robbie Keane, and Landon Donovan previously spent time on short-term deals in Europe in an attempt to stay sharp.

For now, Rooney will have his eyes on the prize with D.C., having transformed the team from no-hopers to MLS Cup challengers since his summer arrival from Everton.

The Black and Red had won two of their first 14 MLS games this season before Rooney's debut; they have won 12 of 19 since that Audi Field curtain-raiser on July 14 and secured their playoff spot last weekend. The 33-year-old has recorded 12 goals and six assists in that time.