Manchester United have taken the top-level decision that Wayne Rooney will not be sold to Chelsea no matter how much money is offered or whatever the potential risks of keeping an unhappy player. Their stance is irreversible and will represent a significant setback for Jose Mourinho, who had been under the impression a deal to take him to Stamford Bridge was only a matter of time.
Chelsea have already failed with two bids, offering €27m in July and €29m in August, and had been convinced United would eventually cave in rather than keep a player whose relationship with the club had deteriorated so badly. On the contrary, the Glazer family is absolutely determined there will be a show of force at Old Trafford this summer and that means rejecting any further Chelsea bid out of principle.
United believe it would be weak in the extreme to bend to player power, no matter how messy it threatens to become before the end of the transfer window, and their position will not change if Rooney hands in a formal transfer request or goes public with his desire to leave.
The forward, who is in contention to lead England’s attack against Scotland at Wembley tonight, will be told United still cherish him as a player and that he needs to think long and hard about clearing his mind and rediscovering his best form in a World Cup year.
Over the next couple of weeks there will be a public request from David Moyes that United's supporters recognise his contribution to the club over the last nine years and refrain from making their displeasure known when he returns to the team.
It represents a calculated gamble on United's part, with the club acutely aware Rooney no longer wants to be at Old Trafford and that Moyes will have his work cut out to get him back to his best.
Bigger point
Chelsea's bids have been considered derisory behind the scenes at Old Trafford but that is largely irrelevant compared to the bigger point that it is not a financial matter, but more a case of protecting the team, supporting Moyes and ensuring there is no damage to the club's status.
United, in short, are in complete agreement with Gary Neville’s view that they “would be mad to sell him”. That falls in line with a promise made to Moyes when he took over from Ferguson that United would keep together the squad that won the league last season.
Moyes remains keen to bring in Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines from Everton and the club are looking at other options in midfield. Moyes would ideally like two central midfielders but shied away from a deal for Thiago Alcantara because he was not entirely convinced by a player Bayern Munich subsequently signed from Barcelona.
United have been frustrated by Barcelona's reluctance to part company with Cesc Fabregas but their information is that he is extremely anxious about how much he will play this season and would jump at the chance to move to Old Trafford if the Catalan club told him he was not required.
Guardian Service
