A couple of months ago, if you said to someone ‘the story of the summer has come to a head over the past couple of days’ most people would’ve assumed it would involve Mourinho in some way. Whilst they're not wrong about that fact, the protagonist of the story has been the ‘angry and confused’ Wayne Rooney.
We all know the player is key to England’s chances, or lack thereof, at the World Cup and unless his future is resolved this summer, an early exit surely beckons. David Moyes’ attempt at mind games went down as successfully as an invitation from John Terry to the Ferdinand's for dinner. The new United manager stated Rooney was his second choice forward, only vital when RVP could not play and Rooney reacted in typical fashion.
The player who may or may not have already handed in a transfer request is, according to Moyes, back up for RVP and within hours of this news Chelsea made advances. The forward’s reps had contacted Sky Sports News and made it clear should Chelsea make advances, Mourinho would not be the only one joining the club this summer.
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In news that will surprise well no one, queen WAG Coleen does not want to move abroad (imagine the couple trying to learn French or Spanish and you can see why). Neither is she keen on her husband spending time alone in a foreign country should (one look at his past indiscretions and again, you can see why). This leaves but one option; a move to another Premier League club.
Understandably this is something the United board want to avoid. David Moyes will be feeling a sense of déjà vu at Rooney wanting to leave his side and become the star man for a Premier League rival. Chelsea may well be willing to make a big money bid for the forward (although not with any of their players as a sweetener as we have been reprimanded for thinking) and Arsene Wenger has even claimed he can afford Rooney’s wages, something that reminds us that silly season is in full swing.
Chelsea represent the most viable option and quite honestly if Juan Mata had been on the table plus cash for the want a way forward, United should have snapped their hands off. Mourinho however would have been called the 'Crazy One' for agreeing to such a deal. But given the man pulled off one of the best deals of the decade convincing Barcelona to part with Eto’o and a huge wad of cash in exchange for the opportunity to drive Ferrari Ibra like a Fiat, winning the treble to boost, it is highly unlikely any such deal was mooted.
What is not in question is Chelsea are in need of a forward and are willing to offer a great deal to land what Mourinho called ‘their only target of the summer’. Yet you could be forgiven for thinking that when the phrase ‘only target’ was voiced, fans were thinking more along the lines of Cavani or Ramadel Falcao. Mourinho however is the master of bringing the best out in players and you have to suspect a fit, motivated, Mourinho managed Rooney can only be a good thing for the National team.
Frankly, Rooney is out of options. The United fans have taken him back once before after he requested to leave the club and managed to get a pay rise in the process. But football is a fickle business and should he stay at the club, a couple of goals in big games will see Rooney welcomed back into the fold again. Let’s not forget Ronaldo was mocked up onto a dartboard in a centre page spread by The Sun newspaper after becoming the winking one yet a mere season later was loved and idolised by all.
That being said, this finally looks like the point of no return for Rooney and the final nail in the coffin would of course be another official transfer request. Given the first United home game is at Old Trafford against Chelsea (the footballing Gods or indeed the FA fixture machine couldn’t have fixed it any better) there is plenty of room for more drama yet. Will the Happy One link up with the Angry and Confused One? Time will tell but in the eyes of United fans, their former talisman is now the Hated One.
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