Is this David Moyes’ first great conquest? To retain Wayne Rooney and prove that he can change the inconsistent ways of the striker? As the new manager spoke out once again that the England international is going nowhere, you have to wonder whether he’s openly revealing the behind-the-scenes plot or whether he’s trying to convince himself.

Rooney, however, seems beyond convincing. The striker has reportedly already told his Manchester United teammates that he’s leaving for Chelsea, while it seems no bridge is big enough to cover the water of this failing/failed relationship between player and manager.

Moyes’ intentions were already misconstrued, though in the right context, you can understand why he’d want to retain Rooney. United are huge club, and it will take more than the retirement of Alex Ferguson to take that away. But the lack of options (or the growing number of options for players around Europe) means United will really have to pull their weight to get what they need in terms of replacements. Wayne Rooney relieving a free-scoring Robin van Persie at various stages of the season is a lot better than blindly going into the night, but you really do get the sense, as tedious as it is, that this saga is a lost cause for Moyes.

Rooney is clearly bored with life at Old Trafford. There aren’t any direct quotes, but we don’t really need any, do we? A new challenge will offer the injection of life that the player needs, ridding him of the tag of “the other guy,” regardless of how good he can be. At Chelsea, Rooney will force the other two or three strikers to take a back seat in the way he did following van Persie’s arrival at Old Trafford last summer.

Jose Mourinho has already stoked the fires by bringing up the issue of the World Cup. Such is England’s lack of options that Rooney, if fit, would get selected no matter what his status is at club level. From a personal point of view, a reinvigorated Rooney could lead the way for his first major showing at a World Cup Finals in his career. Good for player, good for England.

And then you have to ask what is left for Rooney at Manchester United. Titles have been won, from domestic trophies to the European Cup. There is obvious friction between the striker and his teammates, with some said to be unhappy over his actions and no-show of this preseason. It’s not beyond repair, but what’s the point?

It’s the same case with a couple of other Premier League clubs; why keep an unhappy player. Is there a point to prove? Yeah, sure. But how does it benefit you in the long run?

Moyes and Manchester United have been shockingly quiet in the market this summer. Maybe there’s a major signing being put together behind the scenes. I doubt it. With Rooney on board into next season, United sort of have an excuse for their lack of business, if they fail to make any signings, of course. It’s a safety net in more ways than one, but such is the player’s confidence of getting his move, coupled with Chelsea apparently looking no further than Rooney, possibly highlighting their own confidence in the matter, that Moyes and United should just move on and do what they can with the transfer funds over the remaining three weeks.

Should Moyes continue to fight the Rooney transfer saga, or just call it a day?

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