Wayne Rooney’s future takes bleak twist with Sven Goran Eriksson ruling out a mega-money move to take him to Chinese Super League
Ex-England boss said: There is absolutely nothing in it, zero. It is not something we have ever even spoken about at the club
SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON has told long-time favourite Wayne Rooney: I don’t want you in China.
The ex-England boss — now in charge of Shanghai SIPG — was linked with a move for the struggling Manchester United star.
But Eriksson, who gave Rooney, 31, his Three Lions debut, insists he has “zero” chance of teaming up with him.
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He told SunSport: “Everyone knows how much I admire Rooney. That’s one thing. To make out we are going to sign him is something else. There is absolutely nothing in it, zero.
It is not something we have ever even spoken about at the club — and we have been discussing our options for next season a lot.”
It is another bitter blow for Rooney — after ex-LA Galaxy chief Alexi Lalas warned the MLS club off him, saying he would not provide value for money.
Eriksson, 68, said: “I have always known Rooney as a forward — one of the best I have worked with.
“But we already have Hulk, Elkeson and Dario Conca, who are all very good, as our forwards.”
Yet Eriksson remains a big Rooney fan and feels he has several more seasons at the top level.
The Swede added: “He is still a very good player with a lot of quality.
“I’m sure he could come to China in the future. He is the type of player the league will be after.”