The Chinese transfer window is still open until February 28th, and it looks more and more likely that Rooney will go there. Didn't think he'd leave until the summer, but he hasn't been selected in a while (they say he's "slightly injured", but hardly anybody is buying that) and hasn't made the 20 player squad for the EL match tomorrow despite training normally today. Mourinho today:
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Originally Posted by BBC
The Chinese Super League's transfer window shuts next week and Mourinho was asked if the club captain would still be at Old Trafford by then.
"You have to ask him," Mourinho said. "Of course I can't guarantee [he will be here]. I can't guarantee that I'm here next week, how can I guarantee that a player is here next season?" [...] "I would never push - or try to push - a legend of this club to another destiny," added the Portuguese coach. "So you have to ask him if he sees himself staying in the club for the rest of his career or if he sees himself moving. It is not a question for me because I am happy to have him. I don't want him to leave."
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clearly puts the ball in Rooneys park ... also there's this from the Mirror (which I hate, but it's a direct quote and even though they are gutless, I doubt they fake direct quotes now):
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Originally Posted by Mirror
A United insider said: “Nothing could happen until Wayne beat Sir Bobby’s United goal-scoring record. We all knew that once he’d beaten that, the time would come to review his career here. Everything remains totally amicable. We are well aware of what Wayne has done for the club and he appreciates the career he’s had here. But sometimes it’s best for all the parties concerned to look at where we stand and plan a way forward that works for everyone.”
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The Telegraph says whether he makes the EFL final squad has a big impact on his decision. Not sure he'd be one of the 18, to be honest ... Ibra is starting, plus two or maybe three of Mkhitaryan, Mata, Martial and Rashford. So that's at least one of them on the bench for sure, plus maybe Lingard. Not nailed on he'd make the bench IMO.
Personally I think he's off. Mourinho has played this perfectly.