MX23RW : Wednesday, November 6 00:27:59| >> :120:11973:11973:

Gary Neville hoping for Wayne Rooney stay

Neville hoping for Wayne Rooney stay
© SilverHub
Former Manchester United full-back Gary Neville says that he understands why Wayne Rooney would want to leave the club, but hopes he stays until the end of the season.

Former Manchester United right-back Gary Neville has said that he can understand why Wayne Rooney might want to leave the club, but hopes that the striker will stay until at least the end of the season.

Speculation has grown in recent days linking Rooney with a lucrative move to the Chinese Super League before their transfer window ends on Tuesday, with the 31-year-old's agent having reportedly travelled to China to discuss terms over a deal thought to be worth up to £1m a week.

Rooney has missed his side's last five matches through a variety of minor issues and has made just eight Premier League starts for the club all season, but Neville believes that Jose Mourinho will be reluctant to let his skipper leave ahead of a packed fixture schedule.

"I'd like to think Wayne Rooney would stay at Manchester United. It's strange timing - the [English] transfer window over and yet this debate when there's still two months of the season to go. That seems odd. There's still a contribution to be make and many trophies to be played for and won at United," he told Sky Sports News.

"I haven't got a clue [if he'll move before Tuesday's China deadline]. I've known Wayne for a long time but I haven't spoken to him. I'm waiting to see what happens but the timing seems odd when United need their squad. Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay left in January, which means the squad - if they got two or three injuries - would be depleted.

"The fact they're still in the Europa League, playing very important games in the league and the FA Cup, plus obviously a cup final, I'd imagine Jose would want his squad in place. I can also see the other side of it that if Wayne's unhappy and doesn't want to sit on the bench, maybe there would be a move. End of the season, I could maybe see something but why now? I'm not sure."

Rooney, who last month became United's all-time leading goalscorer, has not started a Premier League game for the club since December 17.

ID:292403: cacheID:292403:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3269:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Neymar and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain during the Champions League game between Arsenal and Barcelona on February 22, 2016
Read Next:
Oxlade-Chamberlain wanted by Man United?
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!