Rooney turns down China to stay at Manchester United

Wayne Rooney has released a statement to confirm he is staying at Manchester United, despite interest in him from the lucrative Chinese Super League.

Rooney has struggled to nail down a regular place in Jose Mourinho’s side this season, although he has had enough playing time to overtake Sir Bobby Charlton as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer. Earlier this week it appeared as though his time at Old Trafford was nearing an end, as reports emerged of a potential move to China in the coming days.

It was suggested that the 31-year-old could earn as much as £1million-per-week by taking such a move, and his agent Paul Stretford has flown out to Asia to talk to interested parties. But Rooney has now ruled out a lucrative transfer, by releasing a statement to confirm he will remain in Manchester and fight to bring more silverware to the club this season.

His statement, released on Thursday, read: “Despite the interest which has been shown from other clubs, for which I’m grateful, I want to end recent speculation and say that I am staying at Manchester United. I hope I will play a full part in helping the team in its fight for success on four fronts. It’s an exciting time at the club and I want to remain a part of it.”

United have already won the FA Community Shield by defeating champions Leicester City in August, and they play Southampton in the League Cup final this weekend. Mourinho’s side also eased into the last-16 of the Uefa Europa League this week, face Chelsea in the quarter-final of the FA Cup next month, and remain in the hunt for a top-four league finish.

Since joining the Reds from Everton in the summer of 2004, Rooney has lifted five Premier League titles, an FA Cup, two League Cups, and the Uefa Champions League. He has also broken Charlton’s goalscoring record at international level, hitting 53 goals for England, and plans to play on for his country until the end of the 2018 World Cup.

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