Manchester United: Jose Mourinho opens exit door for Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney could be set to leave Manchester United after Jose Mourinho opened the exit door for the club captain.

Wayne Rooney has been told by Jose Mourinho that he will need to leave Manchester United if he still wants to be a starter at this stage of his career, according to The Sun. Rooney is by no means being pushed out of Old Trafford, but the exit door is ajar if the 31-year-old wishes to leave.

Rooney has had a difficult time of things lately after being relegated to the United bench. The Red Devils fans have also been on the veteran’s back over his form and his continued selection in the team despite obviously not being at his best.

The demotion was seen as a positive step as Mourinho searches to find the best United XI for this season. Rooney is still the Manchester United captain but his future at the club now seems to be in more doubt than ever.

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However, despite the tough times for Rooney as of late, things might just be about to get better. Better for Wayne Rooney and better for Manchester United. A Rooney transfer is something that could potentially be good for both parties. Not to mention overdue.

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United need to move on. The team needs rebuilding and Rooney at this stage of his career is not a solid foundation to build upon. Whilst Rooney taking his place on the bench for the remaining two-and-a-half seasons on his contract is not going to help anybody.

If anything, Rooney being around in the background is a distraction. You never want a spotlight shining on your bench – you want it on the pitch. But that’s unfortunately what Rooney brings. He is going to be in the press no matter what and his natural decline – which every player goes through – is sadly going to be documented step-by-step.

Already Rooney is attracting more attention on United’s bench than most of the current starters combined. And all he’s really doing is playing badly and playing badly consistently. The baggage that Rooney brings is not something United need to tolerate any more.

Not in his current form. Not at his age. Not with players who can now play his position instead, like Paul Pogba, Juan Mata and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. For Rooney himself, an exit from Old Trafford would be equally as good.

Now is the time. Go and play. Go and join a situation that actually needs you. That has less pressure and just allows you to play under less intense scrutiny. The spotlight will always be on Rooney, but not quite as bright at a club like Everton, for example.

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The news is nothing but positive for everybody. Right now, United have bigger issues to worry about than Wayne Rooney. Like, their future. That’s the main issue at present. Rooney is not the answer to that dilemma.

And Manchester United is not the answer to Rooney’s dilemma of reduced playing time. If a transfer does happen in either January or in the summer, it will obviously make huge headlines. But an amicable split would be nothing but positive for all involved.

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