Wayne Rooney On Future With Manchester United After Europa League Final Win Vs Ajax

Wayne Rooney has revealed he has “more or less” decided on his future with Manchester United will be.

Wayne Rooney Says He’s ‘More Or Less’ Decided Future with MaN U

The 31-year-old captain came on as a late substitute in the Red Devils’ 2-0 victory over Dutch club Ajax in the UEFA Europa League final in Stockholm on Wednesday. Jose Mourinho’s squad has now secured a place in next season’s Champions League.

Although he lost a starting spot on United in September, Rooney has played a bit-role for the club, with appearances in 39 games across all competitions and 25 in the Premier League.

Rooney — who joined United from Everton in 2004 — announced he has received interest from several teams both within and outside of England’s Premier League.

“There’s lots of offers on the table both in England and abroad, and really that’s what I have to decide on,” the forward said.

Nevertheless, Rooney — United’s all-time leading scorer with 253 goals — has previously stated he would only return to Everton if he remained in the Premier League.

“I’ve played for two Premier League clubs and they’re the only two Premier League clubs I’ll play for.”

Should Rooney stay at Old Trafford, he will likely get even less playing time than he already does since United plans to spend heavily on two forwards this summer.

Among the teams who have expressed interest in Rooney are clubs from the Chinese Super League and from Major League Soccer.

Rooney is set to play in Michael Carrick’s testimonial at Old Trafford on June 4.

“You know, if you’re asking me if I’m a better player now than I was 10 years ago, then obviously I’m not,” the United captain said. “But I still feel I’ve got other qualities that can help the team and as I said, it’s a decision now I’ll make in the next couple of weeks.

“I think I just have to make a decision in terms of a football decision, and that’s what I’ll do, I’ll do that the next few weeks with my family while I’m away and, honestly, as soon as I know what’s going on then, I’m sure you will.”

The veteran forward also commented on United’s crucial victory over Ajax and how much the team has improved under Mourinho, who took over at the start of last season. Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 following two seasons without winning a major title. Now, the Red Devils have secured four trophies in one year: the FA Cup under Louis Van Gaal last May, and then the Community Shield, League Cup and Europa League under Mourinho.

“We all  know how important it is for this club to be in the Champions League, so it was a big win for us in Stockholm on both arguments,” Rooney stated. “You can say it’s a trophy but also it’s a Champions League spot.

“Look  at Tottenham. They have had a fantastic season, finished second, but with no trophies to show for it. We’re in the same position, in the Champions League, with two trophies.

“But we’ve managed to do that and I feel we’re progressing as a team and a club, and I’m sure now there’ll be many more to come,” Rooney continued. “Some of the younger players had never played in a  European final but now they have got that experience.”

The captain also praised Mourinho for his hard work as manager: “I think he just knows how to win games,” said Rooney. “Having this season with him, I’ve seen how he works. He makes us so hard to beat and then hopes we’ll get a goal or two to win the game.”

Rooney also expressed his solidarity with the victims of the Manchester terrorist attack from Monday night.

“I have to pass my condolences to the families of the victims. It was such a sad day and we all felt it as a team, as a city and as a country,” he said.

“Obviously football  doesn’t bring back the lives that are lost, but it was vital for us to try and hopefully give some happiness to the city.”

It was also revealed Thursday that Rooney has been left out of England’s national team because of the “good form” of other players on the squad, according to head coach Gareth Southgate.

“We’ve a lot of players playing exceptionally well in the area of the pitch that Wayne plays,” said Southgate. “I said last time [in March] that he was a bit short of matches – he’s had some matches now but we’ve got players that have done really, really well for us in Adam Lallana and Dele Alli.”

Rooney is also England’s all-time leading scorer with 53 international goals in 119 appearances. He was excluded from Southgate’s roster for the team’s games against Lithuania and Germany in March because he had not fully recovered from a leg injury. Rooney last played in England’s 3-0 2018 World Cup qualifying victory over Scotland at Wembley in November.

“We’ve got Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane coming back and Jermain Defoe who did really well for us last time, while Jamie Vardy’s been in excellent form in the second half of the season,” Southgate added. “I can’t dress it up any other way. Other players are in really good form and deserve to keep their place.”

England will visit Scotland on June 10 for their next World Cup qualifier, and then head to France for a friendly game on June 13.

Southgate’s team lead Group F with 13 points after five games, while Scotland are fourth with seven points.

Rooney announced at the end of last summer that he would retire from international soccer after the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

WATFORD, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Wayne Rooney of Manchester United (L) argues with referee Michael Oliver during the Premier League match between Watford and Manchester United at Vicarage Road on September 18, 2016 in Watford, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena