If Wayne Rooney is looking for a way out of Manchester United, then he need look no further than Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy. One of their designated players, Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard is set to leave the team at the end of the season and that could open up a spot for Rooney who has fallen way down in the pecking order with Jose Mourinho.
Just a few days ago, the Portuguese manager made it very clearly that if the United captain wanted a guaranteed spot in the team, he could go looking for it elsewhere as he was in no position to make such an offer. While Mourinho isn’t pushing Rooney out of the team, neither can he utilise his services for every game.
In his 12 years at the club, he has played 532 games and scored 246 goals and finally Rooney might feel the need to make a change. His opportunity may have arrived in the form of Gerrard’s exit from the Californian team.
Teams in the MLS are allowed to have a specified number of designated players – those who are paid more than the salary cap in the league and Gerrard, Robbie Keane and Giovani do Santos are the LA Galaxy’s current designated players.
Ever since Gerrard uploaded a picture of himself on Instagram in a Galaxy shirt, thanking the team and fans rather nostalgically, rumours of an exit have been rife. It seems to open up a perfect opportunity for both the team and Rooney who are in the perfect position to help each other out.
According to The Sun , officials from the club have already begun laying down some of the groundwork to make the move happen at the end of the current season. While Gerrard is paid €5 million a year, Rooney’s current wage which stands at £250,000 a week far exceeds that.
If the move goes through, Rooney will definitely have to take a considerable pay cut but the idea of first-team regular football might seem more appealing. LA Galaxy isn’t the only side who have shown interest in signing the England captain. Inter Milan have exhibited their interest in the English forward-turned-midfielder too.
If some rumours are to be believed, Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG are also keen on retaining his services in which case he would be reunited with former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.
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