Former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney could be on his way across the pond to D.C. United.
If you haven’t yet heard the news linking the former England national team captain to the last place team in MLS, you are living under a rock or just haven’t kept up with the latest episode of TMZ.
The rumors started Tuesday with Rooney and United officials in “serious talks,” reported by Steven Goff of the Washington Post. Two days later, the Everton forward reportedly agreed to a “deal in principle” to go to United, according to the BBC.
The following day, United coach Ben Olsen told TMZ there was interest in Rooney.
“Certainly the deal is not done,” Olsen said after initially denying knowing of the matter. “Obviously there is some interest from our end.”
The magnitude of madness left in the wake of the Rooney rumors is clear: TMZ traveled to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to intercept Olsen on his way to Salt Lake City, Utah ahead of United’s match against Real Salt Lake on Saturday at 9 p.m. ET.
Rooney’s not even here yet and it’s already started a TMZ rap beef between Benny and @AlexiLalas. Some would say it’s already working. https://t.co/v2M1tZ9twY
— NoH (@NoOneHome141) May 11, 2018
Following the close of the primary transfer window on May 1, Olsen said the club is “always” looking for high caliber players. United did not close any deals before the deadline.
“It is hard to do deals in this league,” Olsen told Pro Soccer USA. “The summer is when a lot of players are available.”
The secondary transfer window opens July 10, four days before United opens Audi Field on July 14 against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Money, Money, Money
D.C. United is prepared to pay $5 million to 8 million per season for Rooney, according to the Washington Post. This price tag would make Rooney one of the top earners in Major League Soccer.
For comparison, Rooney’s former Manchester United teammate turned Chicago Fire leader Bastian Schweinsteiger earns $6.1 million. LA Galaxy vocal striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, also a former Manchester United teammate, earns $1.5 million, according to the MLS Players Salary guide released earlier this week.
Fans and those who follow MLS criticized D.C. United for not spending major money on players in the past. This season, United is finally getting a new stadium, and a signing like Rooney would finally show that the team is willing to shell out major bucks.
United’s last starting lineup — that included midfielder Paul Arriola — had a combined salary of $3.67 million, which is more than $1 million less than the reported low end of what United is prepared to offer Rooney.
Is that too much?
Mixed Reviews
The reception to the Rooney news ranged from outraged to overjoyed, which included a separate TMZ hottake from Alexi Lalas. He said Rooney is past his prime.
“Wayne Rooney is a wonderful player,” Lalas said. “It all comes down to how much they are paying for him … Anything more than [what Ibrahimovic was paid] and maybe you have some problems.”
Wayne Rooney's a Has-Been, Says Alexi Lalas https://t.co/o5vnC38end
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) May 10, 2018
Rooney made headlines both on and off the field. While his field performance glistened with goals and glory, his off-the-pitch buzz rang a different tune. Most recently, Rooney was suspended from driving for two years and fined two weeks’ wages in 2017 after being charged for drinking and driving with a BAC over three times the legal limit.
Rooney still has a year left on his contract with his boyhood club Everton, which plays its final game of the English Premier League season Sunday against West Ham United.
“If the player wants to go – if any player wants to leave – then I’m comfortable with that,” Sam Allardyce, Everton’s coach, said. “I don’t get involved in anything with regards to transfers, so all I know is there appears to be interest from D.C. United. Where that lies and where Wayne lies with it, I can’t tell you at the moment.”
Following in his brother’s footsteps
If Wayne Rooney does come to MLS, he won’t be the first in his family. In 2011, the New York Red Bulls selected John Rooney, Wayne’s younger brother, in the second round of the MLS SuperDraft.
The younger Rooney made five appearances in MLS for the Red Bulls and eventually had his contract waived before signing with USL Pro side Orlando City.
Although he didn’t score in the regular season, John Rooney did score a free kick goal for the Red Bulls in preseason against Chicago Fire.