Wayne Rooney appears to be staying with Manchester United for the season. Rooney's decision not to make a formal transfer request with the club seemingly ends Chelsea's bid for the talented striker, the Guardian reports.
Chelsea twice tried to acquire Rooney during the summer, but to no avail. On Monday, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho gave Rooney an ultimatum: make an official transfer request within 48 hours or risk Chelsea moving forward without him.
"We are not silly to try something if somebody didn't start it. So I think it is time for the good of everyone to finish the story. For one side, for the other side," Mourinho said after Chelsea's 0-0 draw with United on Monday, via the Guardian. "We need to know what is happening."
United rejected Chelsea's previous offers of £20 million and £25 million, and the United club has taken a firm stance in regard to Rooney's contract. United executive vice president Ed Woodward said, "Would we be afraid to run a contract down? Of course not."
Rooney's silence can be taken as his concession that United has won the standoff.
While Rooney has been relatively quiet, his strained relationship with United isn't a secret. Former manager Sir Alex Ferguson appeared to fracture the relationship by playing Rooney out of position, sitting him for key matches and claiming in May that Rooney wanted a transfer.
Whatever Rooney's reasons for seemingly choosing to stay with United, the 27-year-old at least stands a chance of repairing his relationship with the club under new United boss David Moyes.
Rooney has two years left on his contract. The Premier League transfer window closes on Monday, Sept. 2.
