Wayne Rooney says it is 'an exciting time' at
Manchester United and he wants to remain 'a part of it'
Wayne Rooney has
released a statement saying that he will be staying with Manchester United.
Rooney's agent Paul
Stretford flew out for talks with Chinese Super
League clubs who are interested in signing the England captain.
But Rooney, who recently
became United's all-time record goalscorer, has decided to remain at the club
he joined from Everton back in 2004.
Rooney celebrates the FA Cup goal against
Reading that equalled Sir Bobby Charlton's United club record
His statement read:
"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.
"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."
Gary Neville discusses Rooney's future ahead of
Thursday evening's statement
The Chinese transfer
window closes on February 28 and United manager Jose Mourinho said earlier in
the week that he could not
guarantee that Rooney would remain with the club.
But the 31-year-old
Rooney still has 18 months on his contract and, with United still in the FA
Cup, Europa League and the race for a top-four Premier League spot, Rooney has
decided he is needed at Old Trafford.
Rooney has already
announced plans to retire from international football after next year's World
Cup in Russia but his desire to continue his England career until then may also
have factored into his decision.
Man Utd vs So'ton
February 26, 2017,
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However, the forward
remains a doubt for Sunday's EFL Cup final against Southampton at Wembley, despite having
returned to training after a muscular injury.
Rooney has struggled for
regular game time under Mourinho this season but became United's all-time
record goalscorer last month when he scored his 250th goal for the club against
Stoke.
Soccer Saturday pundit Paul Merson said on Thursday,
before Rooney released his statement, that the former
Everton striker still has plenty to offer in the Premier League and
would like him to end his career back at Goodison Park. He left the Toffees for
United as an 18-year-old in 2004.
Jose Mourinho says he would never force Rooney
to leave United
Merson said: "He
started there, he's an Everton fan, and I would love that but that's just me.
"He's just a bit
too good for China."
Mourinho has been clear
that he would never force a player of Rooney's stature to move away from Old
Trafford and said on Tuesday: "The only thing I can guarantee is that I
would never push, or try to push, a legend of this club to another destination.
"So you have to ask
him if he wants to stay at the club for the rest of his career or if he sees
himself moving on.
"I'm happy to have
him. I have been very open with you. I don't want him to leave."
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