Manchester United saved £31million paying Wayne Rooney to leave Old Trafford
United gave former striker £10m to leave the club last summer but the deal has saved the club a fortune in the long term
Sponsored by
MANCHESTER UNITED saved themselves £31million by paying Wayne Rooney a fortune to leave Old Trafford.
Rooney ended a 13-year career at United last summer when he made an emotional return to former club Everton.
The former England striker still had two years left on his deal at Old Trafford but United were so desperate to move him on they paid him £10m to leave.
Yet the massive golden handshake deal has actually saved the club a huge amount of money in the long term.
A report into the club's finances by top investment company Collins Sarri Statham has highlighted how Rooney's departure was as good for business as it was for the team.
Had the 31-year-old decided he wanted to stay with United and see out the remainder of his deal, the club would have had no choice but to pay him.
And his salary plus loyalty bonuses over that period would have cost £31m more than just the £10m they forked out to ease his exit.
United were happy to give the striker such a big pay-off after a brilliant career which saw him become their greatest ever goalscorer.
WE WANT MOUR Paris Saint-Germain want Jose Mourinho as boss next summer
Rooney scored 253 goals in 559 appearances for United in all competitions, surpassing the 249-goal record previously held by Sir Bobby Charlton.
And his return to Goodison Park has helped breathe new life into a career that had been floundering in the final two years of his stay at United.
Latest Man Utd transfer news
He is now getting regular first team football having spent much of last season on the bench as Jose Mourinho decided he wasn't part of his best side.
And he has already scored four goals this season - including the last minute penalty that salvaged a 1-1 draw at Brighton last weekend.
Despite Rooney's better form, Everton have made a poor start to the season even though they invested heavily in their squad over the summer.
Boss Ronald Koeman is coming under increasing pressure after a series of poor displays with the team currently down in 16th in the Premier League.
