Sport

Wayne Rooney rakes in £2.5m ‘loyalty’ bonus for not issuing Manchester United with formal transfer request

By Tim Hyde

Wayne Rooney will pocket a loyalty bonus of around £2.5million for not formally requesting a transfer from Manchester United – as the striker uses Facebook to patch things up with fans.

A clause in the ‘want-away’ striker’s contract reportedly grants him the massive cheque should he not formally request a transfer for the duration of his current contract until July 2015.

And after Jose Mourinho’s ’48-hour ‘deadline’ for a Chelsea transfer passed, Rooney took to Facebook to praise United fans and hint that he won’t be going anywhere.

United’s number 10 said: “Here’s some pictures from Monday night’s game. It was an unbelievable reaction from the fans, so thank you. I really appreciate your support. It means a lot.”

His comments, appearing an attempt to heal any rift with the Manchester United faithful,  come after Monday night’s 0-0 draw with Chelsea at Old Trafford. 

The 27-year-old’s current £250,000-a-week contract entitles the striker to a loyalty payment if he doesn’t request a transfer over the length of the deal.

The ‘want-away’ striker has seen plenty of transfer speculation this summer after appearing un-settled at Old Trafford.

After a season of playing second-fiddle to Dutch sensation Robin van Persie, the former Evertonian looked ever-likely to take his talents elsewhere. 

Chelsea boss Mourinho had publicly called on the player to declare whether he wanted to stay at United or take up a move to the Londoners.

The Portuguese ‘special one’ was poised to make a third bid of around £40million but Rooney’s decision not to request a transfer looks to have ended the possibility of the United frontman leaving Old Trafford.

Image courtesy of MUFCtv via YouTube, with thanks.

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