Manchester United will allow Wayne Rooney to walk away from the club for free in the summer.
Manchester United are willing to let Wayne Rooney leave the club on a free transfer. The Red Devils are set to pay up the remainder of the striker’s contract and allow him to join another team on a free transfer, according to The Sun.
Rooney still has two more years to run on his £250,000-a-week deal. United are willing to pay off the remaining years and will not even restrict Rooney from potentially joining a Premier League rival.
Rooney has received less game time this season after the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovich. The potential arrival of Antoine Griezmann would also put Rooney even further back in the pecking order.
Many will see this decision by United as an act of desperation to get Rooney out of the club. But why would United be so desperate to move Rooney on? It’s not like he’s a bad influence around the club. If anything, he’s a great influence with his work ethic and experience.
More from The Top Flight
- Barcelona identify Newcastle star as Robert Lewandowski replacement
- Arsenal injury news: Mikel Arteta confirms “rapid” attacker suffered injury
- “600 days” Fans make SHOCK Chelsea revelation – They really are poor
- Arsenal transfer news: Mikel Arteta rivals Manchester United for wonderkid
- Manchester United: Erik ten Hag pinpoints 4 players amid Brighton loss
The only incentive United have to move Rooney on is to get the 31-year-old’s salary off the books. But if the club are paying up the remainder of his deal, then they’re still paying the same money anyway.
No. What this is a goodwill gesture by the club. A gesture of respect and thanks to a player who will go down in Manchester United folklore. Back when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge at Old Trafford, United had a reputation of looking after their own.
That is especially true of players who achieve legendary status at the club. This gesture may even be a suggestion of Ferguson himself. But no matter what, this is no desperate ploy to get Rooney out. It’s just a classy move by United.
Whether you like Rooney or not, he’s been an integral part of Manchester United for almost 13 years now. He will leave as the club’s highest goalscorer of all time. Rooney deserves respect for all he has done for the club, and United are showing him some by offering a smooth exit.
Next: Predicting Liverpool vs. Arsenal, all weekend games
Once a free agent, Rooney can go wherever he wants. Literally. You can’t ask for much more than that. United aren’t even asking him to meet them halfway on the remaining years of salary. The club are asking for nothing. They’re just giving back, and that is something that deserves applause.
In a game so full of money that the finances dictate now, it would be good to see a club put respect before their bank balance on this occasion.