Former Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins has said that striker Wayne Rooney should consider staying at Manchester United because he thinks that a move to Chelsea will be a step down in his career. Rooney has been at the top of English football for the last decade. He became one of the expensive teenagers in the world after making a £ 30 million move to Manchester United in 2004. He has since score close to 200 goals during these nine years and he remains only a handful of goals short of Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of 246 goals.

Rooney was expected to travel with the team to play friendly matches in Sweden, but he has pulled out of the squad at the last moment citing an injury. This, however, is believed to be a suspicious move on the part of the player and club. United only recently rejected a second offer from Chelsea for the 27-year-old. This second offer is believed to have increased the offer to £ 30 million from £ 20 million. Rooney is ready to force his way out of Old Trafford if Manchester United do not sell him. The player has only two years left on his contract, and his value will plummet next summer.

“It shouldn’t end this way, it’s getting horrible. Once you leave Manchester United there’s only one way you’re going. Man United are in the top three biggest clubs on the planet, therefore they will always buy and buy and buy because they always want to be successful. If you want to win things then there’s no better club to be at than Manchester United. So what if you’ve got a bit of competition with Robin van Persie? It’s healthy,” said Wilkins, who has played for Chelsea and has also been an assistant manager at the club.