The Portugese manager was desperate to lure Rooney to Stamford Bridge from their arch rivals United following his confession of wanting to quit the Red Devils this summer. He pursued the English international throughout the summer with a certain glimmer of hope of snatching him away.
Mourinho made two bids for Rooney, but United were hell bent on not selling him to their direct domestic rivals, and hence immediately rejected both these bids while maintaining that he is not for sale. The Blues boss was however expecting this transfer saga to go right down to the wire and was still hopeful of pulling off this deal at the very end.
The sucker punch was probably delivered during the meeting between Chelsea and United at Old Trafford last weekend, where Rooney started the game against his suitors. He was unaffected by the mountain of speculation all around him and put in a stellar performance as he was backed by the deafening cheers and the astounding support by the United faithful.
That could be a good enough explanation in the sudden change in Rooney’s approach towards his current situation and was probably swayed away from his burning desire of quitting United.
Mourinho sensed this and swiftly move to secure the signature of his former charge at Inter Milan, Samuel Eto’o from Anzhi Makachkala as a plan B. He also confirmed the end of his interest in Rooney, as ESPNFC quoted him as saying, “For all parties, it is finished,”
“One thing is to tell you through other people that you want, you want, you want very much, but at the end of the day (nothing happens). Everyone had a right to decide his life his future, so I respect him.”
Speaking further about the capture of Eto’o and further business regarding transfers, he continued, “It is the end (of our signings),”
“Samuel gives us some other qualities in attack and some experience in a team that need experienced players.”
Adding to Mourinho’s decision to end the pursuit is the fact that Rooney was injured in training this week and did not play for United in their 1-0 loss against Liverpool today where Rooney was missed badly by his team who looked uninspired without him. Seemingly it is a head injury which will most likely put Rooney out of the two England World Cup qualifiers, so a Wayne Rooney transfer has to be completely out of the question now as there is no way of knowing how long his injury might keep him sidelined for. Like Ronaldo before him maybe next summer United will be prepared to let Rooney leave.
In other business Mourinho has allowed Victor Moses to join Liverpool on a year’s loan for £1million which suits all parties as Moses might get the chances he wants at Liverpool as a African Cup of Nations winner. Chelsea have too many players in his position and Liverpool will be able to use his wide play and give him the game time he is after.