Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho had previously tried incredibly hard to sign Wayne Rooney for both Real Madrid and Chelsea, according to revelations from an upcoming biography of the Special One. The book also revealed the rather odd nickname the Portuguese tactician had for Rooney, a name he might not be using as the pair united at Old Trafford.
In his new book, ‘Jose Mourinho: Up Close and Personal’, Rob Beasley of the Daily Mail made the startling revelation that Wayne Rooney might have turned out for both Real Madrid and Chelsea if Jose Mourinho had succeeded in his chase, trying to capitalise whenever there was a standoff in Rooney’s contract negotiations with the Red Devils.
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The first attempt came in 2010, when Rooney and United experienced an angry deadlock in contract talks, with Mourinho, then at Real Madrid, saying “If Rooney wants to leave - give me a call.” However, Rooney eventually reconsidered, opting to stay with Sir Alex Ferguson. However, in 2013, with Sir Alex replaced by David Moyes, Mourinho went closest.
The Portuguese tactician was then at Chelsea, and made a huge bid for an unsettled Rooney, trying to lure him saying “I like him, he is at a fantastic age. He has maturity and big experience.” However, Rooney was unwilling to submit a transfer request like Chelsea wanted and the deal fell through.
Mourinho’s ‘Fat Boy’ is floundering for United
Its no secret that Jose Mourinho is a fan of Wayne Rooney, even outlining a clear idea for the United legend’s role when he took over the reigns at Old Trafford. However, the 30-year-old Englishman has struggled to impose himself in United’s system under Mourinho, and looked especially lost in the Red Devils’ 1-3 defeat at Watford.
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Beasley, who has close ties to Mourinho, also revealed that the Portuguese veteran’s nickname for Rooney is a rather unflattering ‘Fat Boy’, although the context in which he uttered the phrase was a rather jocular manner, with Mourinho, then at Chelsea, quizzing Beasley’s son, “What do you think of us trying to sign the Fat Boy?”
Eventually, the pair united in Manchester, although it has been an unhappy union, with United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic-inspired start stuttering in the last few weeks with 3 consecutive defeats.
