
Wayne Rooney: Set for lucrative contract
Wayne Rooney will
be offered a new contract by Manchester United before the World Cup
Finals to make him one of the highest paid players in English
football, and Soccernet understands that England's big
hope for success in South Africa 2010 will commit his long term
future to Old Trafford.
Rooney has been linked with a £100 million transfer - including
a lucrative wage deal - to Real Madrid and super-agent Pini Zahavi
has been hired by Los Blancos chief Florentino Perez to
facilitate the move.
"Zahavi has been told to do all he can to try to bring Rooney to
the Bernabeu. The club are confident a deal can be done," a Madrid
source claimed in Sun Sport.
However, Zahavi is also a close friend of Sir Alex Ferguson and wouldn't upset the
United manager, if, and when he is told 'Rooney is not for sale at
any price', as Soccernet has been informed that the
striker is central to Ferguson's team - and for the manager to
remain at Old Trafford.
Sources close to Old Trafford have told Soccernet that
a new contract will be offered to Rooney this summer, with the
expectation that a new long term deal can be thrashed out.
It will be one of the biggest boosts for England manager
Fabio Capello if he can take
Rooney to the Finals in South Africa free of injury and free of any
pressure over his future.
Manchester United will offer Rooney new terms as soon as the
season is over, and Rooney's attitude is that, provided the terms
are right, he will re-sign for United. His advisors wouldn't want
him distracted by thinking about a new contract while trying to win
the World Cup for England, which in turn would enhance his
reputation.
The argument is that he might return an even greater commodity
then before the global showcase event. But anyone thinking of the
player's state of mind would want this issue sorted out ahead of
the World Cup Finals.
Sir Alex Ferguson is convinced that Rooney will stay at Old
Trafford because he loves it at the club, and has no desire to play
abroad. Rooney has indicated he would turn his back on Spanish
giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Barca's manager Pep Guardiola wants Rooney and it has even been
suggested that former United defender Gerard Pique, would help him
bend Rooney's ear, equally Real would hope that Cristiano Ronaldo would be a major
influence in luring Rooney to the Bernabeu.
But the 24-year-old Rooney once commented "can you see me
playing abroad?". His attitude hasn't changed.
Rooney's new contract will be tabled before the World Cup, when
he will have two years left on his current Old Trafford deal.
Rooney has said he would like to end his career at United, and
providing the terms are right the deal could be agreed in principle
before the 24-year-old heads to South Africa.
Rooney is sure to become United's best-paid player in a new
five-year- deal, and although Barca and Real could easily better
the offer, that will not be the overriding factor.
With United refinancing £700 million of debt, it has been
suggested that another £80 million offer would turn their
heads.
However, Soccernet understands that nothing has fundamentally
changed about the way Sir Alex Ferguson and chief executive David
Gill are left to run the club and the team.
Sir Alex opted to take Real's £80 million for Ronaldo, when it
was clear that the player had his heart and soul set on playing for
Real. There is no such emotional tug for Rooney, and if there is an
emotional tie, it is to Old Trafford.