Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney given 48-hour ultimatum by Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho

Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho ahead of the match against Manchester United at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on August 26, 2013. (Getty Images)

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has given Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney a 48-hour ultimatum to decide if he wants a move away from Old Trafford to Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho also suggested that Rooney told “someone very important in his career” that he wanted out.

Speaking after the dour 0-0 draw between the two sides at Old Trafford, Mourinho said, “The person that started the story has to finish the story. For the good of everyone it is time to finish the story.

“One way or another he has to say ‘I want to leave’ or ‘I want to stay.”

When asked how long he was willing to wait before moving on to other alternatives, Mourinho said “Twenty-four hours, forty-eight hours.”

Chelsea have also been linked with a cut-price deal for Anzhi Makhachkala‘s Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o, who was part of the treble-winning Inter Milan side Mourinho coached.

He added: “If you look at a manager like me, a club like us and the people who work at the club with me, we are not silly enough to try and get a player from a big club that doesn’t want to sell.

“We are not silly enough to try something if somebody didn’t start it. After that, if he wants to leave he has to say – or if he has decided now he doesn’t want to leave any more then he has to say.”

Mourinho lauded Rooney’s professionalism after the striker received huge support from both sets of fans.

“He was a real professional. He played for his club, the club that pays him, and tried to win. He tried to score.

“He played a fantastic match in difficult circumstances and I praise him. You have to say it was fantastic because many players in this situation can’t express themselves.”