• Premier League

Mourinho gives Rooney 48 hours to decide future

Jose Mourinho has given Wayne Rooney 48 hours to go public about his desire to leave Manchester United for Chelsea - or he will switch his attention to another striking target.

Mourinho has had two bids for Rooney rejected this summer and had stated before the 0-0 stalemate on Monday between the two clubs that he would return with a third offer after the match.

But now Mourinho said he believes Rooney will stay with United and told the forward it is up to him to force a move if he wants to join Chelsea.

And he has given Rooney a deadline to "finish" the story - either by revealing his desire to leave Old Trafford or by committing his future to United.

"We are going to close [sign] another player if he is not coming," said Mourinho, who is likely to move for Samuel Eto'o if he fails to get Rooney. "If he is not coming, I want to close another player. How long will we wait? 24, 48 hours."

And Mourinho insisted he only pursued Rooney because the striker had privately made it clear he wanted to join Chelsea.

"He told somebody who is very important in his career," added Mourinho, who said the ball is now in Rooney's court.

"The person that started the story has to finish the story," he explained.

"A club like us, a manager like me, the people that work in the club with me… we are not silly to try to get a player from a big club that doesn't sell what they don't want to sell.

"We are not silly to try something if somebody didn't start it. So I think it is time for the good of everyone to finish the story. For one side, for the other side."

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