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Wayne Rooney: Manchester United dismiss Chelsea bid

By Ben SmithBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments1262

Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and David Luiz

Manchester United have rejected Chelsea's offer for Wayne Rooney and insisted the striker is not for sale.

Chelsea have confirmed making a bid for the 27-year-old but denied they would be willing to include either Juan Mata or David Luiz as a make-weight.

United rejected the offer on Tuesday night but Chelsea are expected to return with an improved bid.

Rooney has reiterated his desire to leave United after manager David Moyes said he was not his number one striker.

Rooney 'problem' may affect England - Mourinho

And Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho confirmed his admiration for Rooney in a BBC interview in Bangkok on Tuesday.

Rooney has been left angered and confused by recent messages coming out of Old Trafford, most noticeably the suggestion from new manager Moyes that Robin van Persie is his main striker.

The Scot said last week: "Overall, my thought on Wayne is that if for any reason we had an injury to Robin van Persie we are going to need him."

Rooney has expressed his disappointment with his situation to senior figures at the club and insisted he will not accept a squad role behind the Dutchman.

United have refused to comment on the latest twist in the saga, with their players in Sydney on the second leg of their pre-season tour.

But Chelsea released a statement on Wednesday, expressing their disappointment that news of their bid had leaked out.

They also denied that any player was included in the offer, despite sources close to the talks claiming otherwise.

"Chelsea can confirm that yesterday it made a written offer to Manchester United for the transfer of Wayne Rooney," read the statement.

"Although the terms of that offer are confidential, for the avoidance of doubt and contrary to what is apparently being briefed to the press in Sydney, the proposed purchase does not include the transfer or loan of any players from Chelsea to Manchester United."

United insist they will not be bullied into selling Rooney, despite the England striker's disgruntlement, and are determined to deal with Rooney's future on their terms.

With Manchester City, who are hopeful of completing the signing of Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo this week, unwilling to follow up their historic interest, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid showing no interest and Barcelona having signed the Brazil forward Neymar, Chelsea have emerged as the likeliest destination for Rooney.

Paris St-Germain have also been linked with the former Everton player, but the French champions have just signed Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani from Napoli.

In addition, Rooney is understood to be reluctant to move abroad.

Rooney may now submit a formal transfer request to force the issue, but there is no guarantee that United will grant him a move to a Premier League rival such as Chelsea.

United are comfortable with the situation and in a stronger position than 2010, when Rooney threatened to leave only to be persuaded to stay by former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

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1262 comments

  • Comment posted by User0823112667, at 11:21 17 Jul 2013

    I'm going to try and make a point to the BBC here, hopefully then they can start validating its stories BEFORE publishing.

    If anyone thinks this story is true, please downgrade my comment. If you think its a steaming pile of cow dung, please rate positively accordingly

  • Comment posted by User0436575052, at 11:09 17 Jul 2013

    I'm not sure what's more ridiculous, Chelsea's ludicrous bid of offering Mata AND £10 million when Mata is much the better play than Rooney, or Moyes actually rejecting a complete bargain.

  • Comment posted by User0117218983, at 11:11 17 Jul 2013

    i enjoyed the part where this article had proof that this actually happened.

  • Comment posted by DaveSmooth, at 11:10 17 Jul 2013

    Ben Smith, are you Phil McNulty in disguise?

    The same story template as Phil’s last week, except the names Liverpool, Suarez and Arsenal have been substituted for Utd, Rooney and Chelsea.

    Where are the quotes from Utd, from Chelsea, from Rooney, or his agent to substantiate this ‘story’? Ah, thought so, they don’t exist. This gutter journalism should not be good enough for the BBC.

  • Comment posted by Alex, at 11:13 17 Jul 2013

    Surely this can't be right.

    1) There is no way Chelsea would offer mata for rooney

    2) There is no way Man U would refuse that offer

  • Comment posted by Welling 4 Promotion, at 11:01 17 Jul 2013

    £10m Plus Mata - TAKE IT!!!

  • Comment posted by User0335908173, at 12:06 17 Jul 2013

    World War 2 bomber seen on the Moon.

    Elvis alive and well on Mars.

    Mata plus £10M for Rooney.


    Does anyone else think the old Sunday Sport writers are now working for the BBC?

  • Comment posted by User0764834591, at 11:10 17 Jul 2013

    The only person who can be "angry and confused" by this whole saga is Juan Mata and the fact that Moyes and Mourinho both value him lower than Rooney

  • Comment posted by User0375912054, at 11:19 17 Jul 2013

    Everybody (including Chelsea) know Rooney is valued at 25-30mill. If this story is to be believed it means Chelsea rate Mata at the most a 20 mill player. They BOUGHT him for 24 mill. So Chelsea's double player of the year has clearly gone down in value in Chelsea eyes. Incredible that anyone would believe this.

  • Comment posted by banfatballboys, at 11:25 17 Jul 2013

    £10m + Hilario sounds a fair deal.

  • Comment posted by georgito, at 11:04 17 Jul 2013

    Come on! Look at the wording of this; It's a fabrication. Slots in neatly with the theme of rampant speculation surrounding rooney all week. Tripe.

  • Comment posted by CFC, at 11:20 17 Jul 2013

    Chelsea would never offer Mata, our player of the year 2 years in a row, or David Luiz, a fan favourite who has just proven himself in the Confederations Cup.
    Even if they did make that offer Man Utd would easily have accepted it.

    I'm disappointed in the BBC for simply guessing what player Chelsea offered simply based on a rumour that was going around a month ago.

  • Comment posted by g, at 11:57 17 Jul 2013

    Extraordinary gossip, I did expect some outlandish stories today but this one is on another level.

    Have the Daily Mail hired the Eastenders writers!

  • Comment posted by Cate, at 11:50 17 Jul 2013

    PAY money to lose Mata or Luiz for Rooney? Why would anyone want to do that?

  • Comment posted by User0739675588, at 11:59 17 Jul 2013

    why would it be Mata or Luiz?!?! Mata is technically superior and Luiz is a £30m player! To suggest it was either of them is really just stupid.

  • Comment posted by LWVP, at 11:50 17 Jul 2013

    Rejecting this offer would leave me angry and confused

  • Comment posted by Tris v3, at 11:50 17 Jul 2013

    If this was true, which is highly unlikely, the fact that Mata and Luiz are for sale deserves it's own article. No? Surely that is a huge story.

    Could argue that it should of been this headline and given Rooney a day off from the lead story.

  • Comment posted by User0839657782, at 11:21 17 Jul 2013

    It isn't Mata / David Luiz. It just said a 'high profile player'.

    My guess is either Obi Mikel, Torres or Ba.

  • Comment posted by KneeBiter, at 14:02 17 Jul 2013

    748 toby 'NO FOREIGN MANAGER WOULD EVER SIGN OR ALLOW ROONEY TO PLAY FOR HIM'

    Pretty sure Sven and Capello both played him if memory serves correct. Never trust anyone who uses all capitals!

  • Comment posted by Beef is cooking, at 12:15 17 Jul 2013

    As a Chelsea fan this has made me feel physically ill. Juan Mata is a much better player than Rooney, and a thoroughly amicable chap. Rooney seems completely disinterested in playing football most of the time and has a huge disparity in ability from when he's playing well to when he's playing poorly.

    I sincerely hope this is untrue.

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