United rebuff Chelsea’s £25m bid for Rooney
MANCHESTER United yesterday rejected a fresh £25m bid from Chelsea for unsettled striker Wayne Rooney.
The offer is the second from the Blues for the want-away England international, after a £20m bid was also rejected last month.
Rooney has not been included in United’s squad to face Swedish club AIK in a friendly in Stockholm today.
The 27-year-old sustained an injury in a behind-closed-doors friendly against La Liga side Real Betis over the weekend.
“Wayne hurt his shoulder in a fall during a match on Saturday,” manager David Moyes confirmed.
“I don’t expect it to keep him out for too long. I’m disappointed he’s missing the game because we were keen to get him back involved.”
United’s own ambitions in the transfer market have received a double blow after Barcelona insisted that midfielder Cesc Fabregas will not be sold and forward Cristiano Ronaldo is thought to be on the verge of agreeing a new contract at Real Madrid.
Moyes remains keen to sign Fabregas, having had two offers for the 26-year-old former Arsenal captain rejected, despite the La Liga champions claiming United have given up their pursuit.
“They have renounced his signing,” said director of football Andoni Zubizarreta.
“We aren’t going to sell him. We count on Cesc.”
Meanwhile, Ronaldo is believed to be close to signing a five-year contract extension to stay at Real in a deal worth around £75m.