Mourinho Gives Transfer Ultimatum to Wayne Rooney after Drab Stalemate

Jose Mourinho has told Wayne Rooney that he has to endgineer a move out of Old Trafford in the next 24 to 48 hours or Chelsea will give up their interest in the striker. The Blues have had two bids rejected for the England international and are prepared to come back in with an improved third offer if Rooney manages to convince United to offload him.

"The person that started the story has to finish the story. 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," Mourinho said.

The Chelsea manager, following their 0-0 draw against United at Old Trafford was bullish in his message for Rooney, stating that he will wait for a maximum of 48 hours for the striker to make up his mind. The Blues are then expected to move for other targets with a striker still very much in the plans for Mourinho.

"Yes, I would like. We are going to close another player if he is not coming. It depends on this [Rooney's decision]. It depends on his reaction and his feelings. If now he doesn't want to leave, we are out of the thing. But we need to know. We need to know what is happening," he insisted.

Mourinho was also appreciative of the Old Trafford crowd who got behind Rooney when he started yesterday and the former Real Madrid manager believes that it is not a typical reaction to someone who wants to leave.

"I think this club [United] must be a very special club. In every other club in the world, when a player wants to leave, they don't support him and give him a hard time. But they [United fans] have supported him all the way, so I think this must be a very special club, with special fans. It was good, it was nice, it was very English. I think probably now, he decides that he wants to stay. If he makes that decision, we will be the first to respect that," he concluded.