Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has told Wayne Rooney that there is a deadline should he want to make the move to Stamford Bridge following last night’s goalless draw between Chelsea and United at Old Trafford.
Chelsea has already had two bids rejected by the northwest club for Rooney who despite talking about leaving the Red Devils was cheered by the fans throughout the match even though he could be on the verge of leaving the club.
When asked by reporters if there would be a third bid for the England international Mourinho said: “We have to speak but this club must be a very special club, because in every club in the world when a player wants to leave, they don’t support him. They give him a hard time. But they support him all the way.
“We are not so silly as to try to get a player from a big club, a club that doesn’t sell what they don’t want to sell; we are not so silly as to try to do something if somebody didn’t start it.”
“The person that started the story has to finish the story. For the good of everyone it is time to finish the story. One way or another he has to say ‘I want to leave’ or ‘I want to stay’.”
It has been reported that Chelsea have players such as Anzhi Makhachkala’s Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o on their radar and when asked about how long Mourinho was willing to wait before moving onto other targets, the Portuguese said: “Twenty-four hours, 48 hours.”
United manager David Moyes has insisted throughout the summer that Rooney would not be sold and after Monday night’s performance his stance is unlikely to change.
In a match of few clear-cut chances, the 27-year-old England forward was instrumental in most of United’s moves and looked fully determined to focus on activities on the pitch.
Moyes said on Monday night it would be “illegal” for Mourinho to make any request of Rooney and hailed his striker’s performance, as well as the fans.
Mourinho added: “Rooney was a real professional. He played for his club, played for the club that pays him, tried to win, tried to score. He was fantastic.
“After that, if he wants to leave, he has to say – or he decides now that he doesn’t want to leave anymore. But I praise him. He played a fantastic match in these difficult circumstances.
“They gave him fantastic support, it was good, it was nice – very English.”
