It will be Adios, Old Trafford as Wayne Rooney swaps Manchester for Madrid in 2014. The only question remaining is whether it will be in the summer or within the next nine days.
With strike partner Robin Van Persie injured for large swathes of the season, Manchester United have been more reliant than ever on the England forward’s goals. He has scored 9 goals in 16 games, a worse strike rate than potential replacement Danny Welbeck, but of course there is so much more to Rooney’s game than goals.
It is Rooney’s energy and determination that have caught the eye of Carlo Ancelotti. He sees Rooney as the final piece in the jigsaw of his Real team. An attacking line up of Benzema, Ronaldo, Rooney, Di Maria and Bale would strike fear into any team. A long time admirer of Rooney, he also coveted him in his tenure as Chelsea boss but was unable to land his man while Sir Alex Ferguson was still around.
Wayne is desperate to leave. He has made it clear that he will not be staying at Old Trafford beyond this season, even in the increasingly unlikely event that Manchester United qualify for the Champions League. He has threatened to quit before, of course, but at 28 he fears that he is reaching his peak and is looking for one final hurrah. Moyes and Rooney had a fractious relationship when the striker was a young man at Everton. If anything, the relationship has soured. Moyes is privately admitting that his star man will leave.
Rooney has set his heart on Madrid and will get his way. Moyes would let him go in the summer for around €20M, but Madrid will push to land him now. Los Blancos are only one point behind Atletico and Barcelona and one big signing could be enough for them to wrest this year’s La Liga title away from their two biggest rivals. A bid is expected within 48 hours.
Ironically, it seems that Moyes desperate behind-the-scenes search to find a replacement for Rooney up front, could lead to him torpedoing his own bid to sign Juan Mata from Chelsea. More news here: http://laligablog.com/?p=3667
