Wayne Rooney leaving Manchester United and signing for Chelsea would be a step down, says Ray Wilkins.
Wayne Rooney will have a better chance of winning trophies if he stays with Manchester United rather than joining Chelsea, according to former England midfielder Ray Wilkins, who has played for both clubs.
On Monday United confirmed they had rejected a second bid from Chelsea for Rooney, whose future remains shrouded in doubt, but Wilkins has urged the England striker to embrace the “healthy” competition for places at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson last season claimed the 27-year-old wanted to leave, and Rooney is understood to have been unimpressed by quotes from new United boss David Moyes this summer that suggested he would effectively have to be an understudy to main frontman Robin van Persie.
“It shouldn’t end this way, it’s getting horrible,” said Wilkins. “Once you leave Manchester United there’s only one way you’re going.
“Man United are in the top three biggest clubs on the planet, therefore they will always buy and buy and buy because they always want to be successful.
“If you want to win things then there’s no better club to be at than Manchester United.
“So what if you’ve got a bit of competition with Robin van PersieIJ It’s healthy.
“He should stand up to the plate and show these people what he’s made of. He’s got so much wonderful football left in him.”
United said on Monday that their position remained that Rooney was not for sale. Wilkins feels that should that stance change, the Red Devils would be “crazy” to let the player switch to another English club - although he admits he would personally love to see Rooney sign for Chelsea.
The 56-year-old added: “If I was David Moyes there’s no way I would sell him to anyone in England. I’m sorry — he’d have to go abroad.
“I would love him to join Chelsea, though. I would love nothing more than to see Wayne Rooney wearing that blue shirt.
“I just think he’s ready for his second coming. He’s 27 years old and if for some strange outcome he stays in England, then Wayne is ready to start again.
“Man United would be crazy to do that though, they shouldn’t sell him to one of their closest rivals.”
Meanwhile, Juan Mata, the Spanish World Cup winner, predicts that with Chelsea once again under the stewardship of Jose Mourinho the club can recapture the glory days that the Portuguese manager brought in his first spell in charge.
The 25-year-old playmaker has established himself as a key figure in the Blues squad in his first two seasons, and if he was unsettled by suggestions he would be used as a makeweight in the pursuit of Manchester Unitedstriker Wayne Rooney - claims Chelsea swiftly dismissed - he is now intent on proving his worth.
“Everyone wants to feel important for the club,” Mata said. “I feel it, I’m very happy and enjoying training with the new manager, and I hope I can improve on the last two seasons.”
Mata and the five other Chelsea players involved in the Confederations Cup — Fernando Torres, David luiz, Cesar Azpilicueta, Oscar and John Obi Mikel — missed the tour of Asia and joined up with the Blues squad for the remainder of the pre-season fixtures in the United States.
The last 10 days have been former Valencia forward Mata’s first taste of working under Mourinho, who called him earlier in the summer to assure him he was part of his plans.
Mata, who has won the Champions league, FA Cup and Europa league in his first two seasons at Stamford Bridge, hopes the current squad can achieve similar successes to those enjoyed in Mourinho’s first spell, from June 2004 to September 2007, when they won back-to-back Barclays Premier league titles and numerous domestic cup competitions.
“We’re really looking forward to starting the season with him and we are all excited about it,” Mata added on the club’s official website.