AS Monaco want Wayne Rooney

Monaco want Wayne Rooney

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Speculation of a move from French club Monaco for England and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has intensified over the last few days, with the wealthy French side looking set to make an approach.

Rooney only recently agreed a 5½-year, £300,000-a-week deal at Manchester United following intense speculation about his future at the club. However, this doesn’t look like dissuading Russian billionaire and Monaco owner Dmitry Rybolovlev from trying to pry the England forward from his club.

The increased speculation comes from comments made by the vice-president of Monaco Vadim Vasilyev, who has a reputation for knowing the club’s intentions.

“One year ago, we were discussing one of the top players of the Premier League, a top English player. But it was on the table. This opportunity finally did not happen, but I think one day that it will come, that it will happenm,” Vasilyev stated to the Telegraph.

Monaco can offer Rooney Champions League football, a tax-free wage deal and an escape from the intense pressures of English football. However, their stature and standing in European soccer is still relatively low and it would certainly be a step down for Rooney, coming away from captaining the most decorated team in English soccer history.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal clearly values Rooney as a crucial player and giving him the captains armband at the start of the season was a display of confidence in the player that he was essential to his long-term plans.

United fans will be hoping that Rooney doesn’t feel the pull of a move to Monaco, as united seem to be regaining their form at the start of the new season. Whilst Rooney got sent-off for a wild lash out at West Ham’s Stewart Downing, his performances over the last few seasons have shown an increasing level of maturity.

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