Wayne Rooney looks set to sign a new deal with United and has said that he would like to finish his career at Manchester United which is just the kind of thing everyone concerned with Manchester United wants to hear.

When a player is doing as well as Rooney has been doing ever since he burst onto the scene around seven years ago, it is not surprising that the other big clubs in the world might be trying to catch his attention but when the names Real Madrid and Barcelona were mentioned, Rooney said this:-

“It’s nice to be noticed but I’m really happy at United and, unless they tell me otherwise, I can’t see myself leaving. I’ve got two years left after this year on my contract so I’m sure we’ll be negotiating a new deal in the next few months.”

This is pretty much the perfect answer.

It makes no arrogant presumptions that the decision for him to stay at Manchester United is entirely his to make.

It lets everyone know that he is happy where he is and already has an eye on extending his career there.

At the same time, it does not convey any kind of disrespect for the other clubs mentioned but nor does it offer them any kind of encouragement whatsoever that he might be amenable to a move.

After two years of listening to Ronaldo’s “maybe”, “who knows?”, “who can tell the future?”, “perhaps… I think…” and other such attention-seeking and non-committal nonsense, Rooney, as always, comes as a breath of fresh air.