Rooney could benefit from Special help

Wayne Rooney’s fractured relationship with Manchester United is now so brittle, so irreparable, that the debate has already moved on from ‘will he go’ to ‘what can the Special One do for him?’

And the answer, simply, is everything.

Rooney stands on the brink of an Old Trafford exit following a week of briefing and counter-briefing that has seen his entire future played out in the public domain; and now, whatever United’s official statements may say, it is only heading in one direction. Having seen his frustrations tactically leaked to Sky, the “confused and angry” striker was the subject of a bid from Chelsea on Tuesday — the first step to what is likely to be a long and drawn-out transfer negotiation, even though United rejected it out of hand yesterday.

United briefed details of the offer, suggesting it had been for £10m plus a player; Chelsea responded with a briefing — and then an official statement — that they had in fact made a cash-only bid for the England forward, who has now burned his bridges so badly with United fans that it seems impossible he can do anything other than leave.

“Chelsea can confirm that yesterday it made a written offer to Manchester United for the transfer of Wayne Rooney,” read the statement.

Although the terms of that offer are confidential, for the avoidance of doubt and contrary to what is apparently being briefed to the press in Sydney, the proposed purchase does not include the transfer or loan of any players from Chelsea to Manchester United. The real debate, then, is where Rooney would be most likely to flourish? Although Chelsea are first off the mark, there will undoubtedly be other interest; Paris St Germain made inquiries about the striker last year while Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich will almost certainly consider whether they can match Roman Abramovich’s desire to sign a player who guarantees both headlines and goals.

Having a choice of manager that includes Arsene Wenger, Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti is a privileged position, of course — but for a player whose form and performance level seems to depend more on confidence and fitness than technique or tactics, the name of Mourinho should rise above them all.

Perhaps, weary of hairdryers and mood swings, Rooney may crave the quieter and more thoughtful style of someone such as Wenger; and Arsenal could certainly offer him a guaranteed starting place given the dearth of top-quality strikers at the Emirates. But there is something about Rooney’s character, his brusqueness and bulldog mentality, that seems to fit better at Stamford Bridge; and Frank Lampard’s description of life under Mourinho should be more than enough to make his current decision a simple one.

When asked recently what was ‘special’ about the Special One, Lampard was unequivocal in his praise.

“It’s everything,” he said. “The way he deals with players, the way he motivates people. He’s a great manager, I’ve said it a million times to the point of boring people.

“He took my game on a million miles, and my personality in terms of football on a million miles as well. A lot of the reasons I moved on in the game is because of him.

“When he first arrived, he made me believe I was better than I was at the time. I thought I was a decent player, but he said to me ‘listen, you can really get to the top’ and he made me believe it.

“With managers, it’s the ones that get the best out of you individually that you remember. And Mourinho has been the best. He brought my confidence to a level it had never been at before.”

In four paragraphs there, Lampard has summed up everything that Rooney needs following a difficult few seasons in which he has been left unsettled at Old Trafford and frustrated at his failure to find top form in international tournaments, particularly in South Africa in 2010.

At Stamford Bridge he would find a manager who takes no nonsense, who won’t accept any drop in fitness levels — and certainly won’t be impressed by rumours of smoking cigarettes on the sly or putting on weight over the summer — but also one who will back him to the hilt, take him to his heart and send him onto the pitch believing he is the world’s best.

“I think he’ll be all right — whatever happens,” insisted former Everton, Spurs, Barcelona and England striker Gary Lineker yesterday when asked how Rooney will cope with his big dilemma.

“If he stays, I’m sure he’ll be fine — and if he leaves, maybe it will give him fresh impetus to recharge his batteries and have another go. I think wherever he goes, he’ll play regularly. I’ve a feeling he’ll leave.”

Lineker, who famously left Goodison Park for the Nou Camp, says he should not rule out a move abroad.

“If one of the great clubs, a Barcelona or Real Madrid, come in for you, it’s got to be tempting. You’ve got to think about it. Not just in terms of football but in terms of life experience.

“Would going abroad improve him as a player? Well, that’s for Wayne isn’t it? And it also depends where he goes. If you are Rooney do you want to go and play in French football? But if it was Real Madrid or Barcelona — then absolutely. One of the big Italian clubs maybe too.”

But is there really any need for Rooney to dwell too long on his options? Chelsea may not be United’s choice of buyer for a player who could transform bitter rivals into title favourites — and that may yet prove an unmovable obstacle in any deal. But in terms of finding a manager to reinvigorate Rooney’s career and propel a 27-year-old approaching the peak of his career to even greater heights, perhaps only a Special One will do.