Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney. (Photo : Getty Images)
World football superstar Wayne Rooney of English Premier League club Manchester United reportedly snubbed a $135 million offer from Chinese Super League team Shanghai SIPG FC, according to recent reports.
SBS reported that the 30-year-old Rooney recently rebuffed the "eye-watering" three-year contract offer from the China club and the opportunity to reunite with former England national team head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, who is currently the manager of Shanghai SIPG.
Shanghai finished second behind champions Guangzhou Evergrande in last season's CSL competitions and Eriksson is said to be targeting Rooney to put his team over the hill this year.
The 67-year-old Swede coach is also said to believe that the Red Devils striker is "the man to send the profile of Chinese football soaring".
The report noted that SIPG submitted a bid worth $34 million during this January's English transfer window, with a $45 million annual compensation for Rooney himself, but the offer was still tabled by both club and player.
United manager Louis van Gaal reportedly already gave his blessing if Rooney really wants to leave Old Trafford, but the five-time Premier League champion said that he chooses to stay put for now "and won't be joining the likes of Socceroos star Tim Cahill, Robinho, Asamoah Gyan and Demba Ba in football's new frontier".
Rumors of a possible China move for Rooney have emerged as early as last month, with Daily Mail Online indicating that the Red Devils and England captain was offered £75 million ($108 million) by Eriksson.
The compensation package allegedly includes an "image rights agreement", which would earn the Liverpool native royalties as he helps increase the global profile of Shanghai SIPG and the whole CSL itself.
With three years left in his Manchester contract, Rooney is still one of the most in-demand players in the world today.
