Wayne Rooney tells Manchester United teammates 'I will be joining Chelsea': reports
Several current and former Manchester United players have requested Wayne Rooney to extend his nine-year stay with the Premier League champions and his unwillingness has reportedly caused them some pain. Mourinho, who has earlier also hinted that it is either 'Rooney or bust' for Chelsea, insisted on Thursday that they are trying to make the deal in the 'correct way' and are still hopeful to finalise the transfer.
Chelsea and Jose Mourinho have already had two bids for the Wayne Rooney rejected but the England striker has apparently told his teammates at Manchester United that he is off to the Blues this summer.
In a report published in ESPNFC, sources were quoted telling Rooney's intention on the proposed move.
Mourinho, who has earlier also hinted that it is either 'Rooney or bust' for Chelsea, insisted on Thursday that they are trying to make the deal in the 'correct way' and are still hopeful to finalise the transfer.
"We are doing the things in the correct way.
"We did the bid, Manchester United had their reaction and let's see what happens but we can't do more than what we are doing now, doing things legally, making an official bid directly, no interviews, no comments, no direct relation with the player.
We're doing things in an ethical way and let's see how it finishes," Mourinho said.
Several current and former United players have requested Rooney to extend his nine-year stay with the Premier League champions and his unwillingness has reportedly caused them some pain.
The management at United and David Moyes have insisted the 27-year-old is not for sale but Chelsea remain keen on the former Everton star.
On Rooney's importance to the side which has Fernando Torres, Demba Ba and Romelu Lukaku as strikers and a flurry of attacking midfielders and wingers in Andre Schurrle, Juan Mata, Oscar, Eden Hazard, Victor Moses, Kevin de Bruyne, Mourinho was still adamant that the England's strikers' services are needed.
"As you know we have our squad, our strikers. We have identified the player as a player we would like to have with us. We did it in an ethical way and will do it until the last day, and we will see.
Rooney has not played for United in the preseason, apart from a behind-closed-doors friendly against Real Betis, because of reported hamstring and shoulder injuries.
He missed Rio Ferdinand's testimonial, the 3-1 defeat to Sevilla, but trained with the reserves on both Thursday and Friday. Rooney could be fit enough to face Wigan in Sunday's Community Shield at Wembley but it remains to be seen if Moyes will pick him.
He has been included in Roy Hodgson's England squad for Wednesday's friendly against Scotland.