Wayne Rooney - Why Leave?

Wayne Rooney has been involved in one of the longest transfer sagas of the summer and it looks as if that saga is set to continue on towards the end of the transfer window.

Rooney has long been a United faithful, wearing his heart on his sleeve and putting in performances that had helped win over the Old Trafford crowd. He put in the effort and performances that emulated the crowd’s emotions for the club and through Wayne Rooney, the fans had one of themselves on the pitch!

Although recently the relationship between the Manchester United number 10 and the fans has been soured due to the player’s reluctance to distance himself from a move away from the club. His constant refusal to commit to the team has been infuriating for the fans.

The England International first tainted the fans thoughts on him after he asked to leave the club back in 2010 when he believed the club wasn’t moving in the right direction and the right players were not being bought.

“I met with David Gill last week and he did not give me any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad,” Rooney said.

He continued: “I then told him that I would not be signing a new contract. I was interested to hear what Sir Alex had to say yesterday and surprised by some of it. It is absolutely true, as he said, that my agent and I have had a number of meetings with the club about a new contract. During those meetings in August I asked for assurances about the continued ability of the club to attract the top players in the world.”

Rooney then signed a new contract worth a reported £250,000 a week for five years. Now three years after that career meltdown, Rooney is tarnishing his United legacy yet again by refusing to commit to the club.

On Sir Alex Fergusons final game in charge at Old Trafford he revealed that the player had asked to leave Manchester United. He said:

“I don’t think Wayne was keen to play, simply because he’s asked for a transfer,” the Scot told Sky Sports.

“I think he wants to think things through in his own mind. I think that’s a good idea. We’re not going to let him go. I think he’s maybe a bit frustrated at being taken off once or twice in the past few weeks,” he continued.

Chelsea, who now have their former manager Jose Mourinho in charge, have made two bids for the United playmaker but both have been turned down. The bids tabled by the London club were reported to be in the region of £20 million and then £30 million.

The most frustrating element to the whole transfer saga for Manchester United fans has been Wayne Rooney’s apparent desertion from the spotlight during this time in which his future in question. No statements have been made by him or any representatives declaring that he has the desire to get away from Manchester, and this is making the situation become even more bothersome.

Even if Wayne Rooney did finally come out and state that he wants to leave the club, the question everyone related to Manchester United would ask is, why would he want to leave?

At the moment the 27 year old is sitting in fourth position in the all-time goal scorers for Manchester United with 197 goals in 402 appearances. He is 18 goals ahead of the legendary George Best and only 14 goals between Jack Rowley who sits in third position with 211 goals in 424 appearances.

Top of the leader board is of course Sir Bobby Charlton who has an unbelievable 249 goals in 758 appearances. Wayne Rooney has a record of 0.49 goals per game so at the current rate if he was to stay and continue to score goals at this level over the next few years he could quite possibly break the all-time goal scoring record. What bigger incentive is there in world football than that? Rooney conceivably has the amazing chance to become the top scorer of all time at arguable the biggest club in world football.

Instead, it seems, at the moment his attentions are elsewhere and specifically in the blue of London. The transfer window closes on 2ndSeptember so there is quite a way to go yet in this long drawn out transfer saga regarding Wayne Rooney.

If it were up to the fans right now to decide his fate then the differences in opinion would be huge. There are sections of the fans who still believe Rooney can stay at Old Trafford and fight for his place despite his recent actions. It is fair to say though that the majority of the fans are now weary of his ignorant and arrogant displays towards Manchester United and will be glad to a certain extent to see him go.

Will he leave and join rivals Chelsea or will he stay and fight on as a United player for the coming seasons in which he could potentially break many records? The transfer saga of the summer is set to continue on into the final days of the transfer window, the big question is, will Wayne Rooney get out before it shuts?

By @leegormley