Real Madrid keeping close tabs on Wayne Rooney
Could this really be Wayne Rooney’s final season at Manchester United?
With speculation increasing that the 24-year-old has grown disillusioned with life at Old Trafford – or rather, life in England - Spanish giants Real Madrid are reported to be on red alert, poised to make a huge £75million bid for the striker’s services in the summer.
And the flames were fanned earlier this week, when it was revealed that contract talks between the club and player have recently stalled, as Rooney attempts to overcome personal difficulties both on and off the pitch.
Just under a year ago, things could hardly have been rosier for the England international. Playing with the freedom and zest which transformed Rooney into the household name he is today, the United No. 10 was busy producing consistently brilliant performances for the Red Devils, and was well on his way to completing his most prolific season since turning professional.
Many proclaimed that he now rightfully sat among the best three players in the world, alongside Lionel Messi and former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, with the entire national quietly optimistic that a fit Wayne Rooney could inspire England to World Cup glory in South Africa.
In the midst of his purple patch, Rooney also found time to make his future intentions crystal clear. "I hope I can reach 800-odd appearances for United," he said.
"I've always said that I'd like to end my career here and if I could emulate what [Ryan] Giggs has done at this club then it would be an amazing achievement."
Fast forward 11 months - with a lackluster World Cup campaign, weeks of lurid tabloid allegations and contradictions with Sir Alex Ferguson, all under his belt – and the contrast between then and now are so vast that the prospect of Rooney leaving Manchester this summer no longer sounds like an entirely unrealistic idea.
Despite the striker’s recent lack of form and alleged unprofessional extra-curricular activities, there wouldn’t be many clubs in world football who’d turn down the opportunity to sign one of the most revered players on the planet.
Real Madrid president, Florentino Perez, certainly wouldn’t sniff at the chance if previous reports are to be believed. Former president, Ramon Calderon, revealed that Perez is “obsessed” with the idea of bringing Rooney to the Bernabeu – and it’s often been said that when the Spanish businessman wants a player, Real will inevitably sign them at some stage.
It’s a notion which Ferguson could reluctantly testify to. The Scot was adamant that United wouldn’t do business with the club he famously described as “a mob” in December 2008, following their continuing interest for Ronaldo, but in the end, an £80million bid proved enough to bring the Portuguese superstar to Madrid.
However, in Ronaldo’s case, it was always a lifelong dream to ply his trade in the famous white shirt of the most successful club in European Cup history. During the final few seasons of his stint in the north-west of England, it was an inevitability that the winger would one day become a Galactico – all that was required to complete the deal was a world record transfer fee.
Not so for Rooney. With the St George’s flag tattooed to the top of his left arm, there’s only ever been one country where the Liverpool-born forward seemed destined to spend his club career. Widely regarded as the most naturally gifted player England have produced since Paul Gascoigne, it made sense that the nation’s best player would see out his playing days as a United legend, having achieved every major honour that the sport has to offer.
That was the dream, at least. But dreams, particularly in football, rarely come to fruition.
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