Rooney signs blockbuster deal with Man United

Wayne Rooney pledged his long-term future to Manchester United on Friday after signing a blockbuster contract extension with the Premier League champions.

Rooney had just 18 months left on his previous deal and was a transfer target for Chelsea last year, sparking speculation he could leave at the end of this season, but the England striker has agreed to prolong his stay at Old Trafford until June 2019.

The new contract will reportedly pay the 28-year-old 300,000 pounds ($498,840) a week, with Rooney also set to stay at United as a club ambassador when he retires.

"Wayne Rooney has committed his future to Manchester United by signing a four-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until June 2019. Wayne will also become a club ambassador when he retires from the game," a statement on United's website said.

Rooney, who had confirmed the news on his Twitter feed just before United's official announcement, said he was delighted to have finally signed the deal.

The former Everton star also said he is relishing the opportunity to inspire the next generation of United players in his role as one of the team's senior figures.

"I am made up to be staying at United. In August, I will have been at the club for 10 years and during that time I have played with some fantastic players and won everything that I hoped I would when I first signed," he said.

"I now have the chance as one of the club's senior players to help the younger players coming through and to be a part of another great United team.

"The fans have always been a huge part of this club and the support they have given me since my debut against Fenerbahce has been amazing. I am very grateful to all United fans around the world for their continued support.

"I am convinced that this is the start of another successful chapter in Manchester United's history."

United manager David Moyes, who gave Rooney his professional debut during their time at Everton, was relieved to secure his striker's future and confirmed several clubs had chased Rooney since he took over from Alex Ferguson last year.

Ferguson had revealed last season that Rooney asked for a transfer following a lengthy spell as a bit-part player under the Scot, who was said to be unhappy with Rooney's failure to keep himself match-fit.

That was the second time Rooney had apparently fallen out of love with life at United.

He also asked for a transfer and publicly questioned whether the club could match his ambitions in 2010, before changing his mind and agreeing to stay.

"I am thrilled that we have got Wayne Rooney to stay," Moyes said.

"He has been fantastic. Everyone would want him in their team.

"There were clubs who did want him. There were clubs who would have wanted him (had he not signed a new deal) but there was never going to be a chance he was going to leave Manchester United, certainly not on my watch."

Rooney's decision to stay with United is a major boost for a club enduring its worst season for years.

Moyes has been unable to make a smooth transition from the Ferguson era, despite taking over a team which finished as English champion last season.

United is languishing in seventh place, 15 points behind leader Chelsea and 11 adrift of fourth-placed Liverpool.

The prospect of missing out on Champions League action next season hasn't dissuaded Rooney from remaining loyal to United, which will hope the forward now goes on to establish himself as one of the club's all-time greats.

Rooney, who arrived from Everton in August 2004, has played 430 games for United, scoring 208 goals, a tally which already puts him fourth on the club's all-time goalscorer list behind Jack Rowley (211), Denis Law (237) and Bobby Charlton (249).

(China Daily 02/23/2014 page11)