Manchester United and Chelsea were so tense after the breakdown of Wayne Rooney’s proposed move to Stamford Bridge that it nearly cost Juan Mata his move in the other direction.Jose Mourinho had made signing Rooney his top target in the summer of 2013 when he returned for a second spell as Chelsea boss.
With Sir Alex Ferguson retired and Rooney’s contract negotiations stalling, Man United had a choice to make: cash in or stick to their guns.Premier League clubs are perhaps more willing than they were a decade ago to negotiate with each other, such is the changing landscape of the transfer market.
But when it came to the topic of selling their all-time top goalscorer and club legend Rooney to a rival, United were unwilling to do business.
According to The Athletic, former executive vice chairman Ed Woodward became aware of Chelsea’s interest in a deal worth around £40million.
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