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EFL Cup final: Why Rooney should bow out after Wembley final

Crunch time is finally here. Amidst a tidal wave of speculation over a possible move to China, Wayne Rooney must decide whether to finally leave Manchester United.

Speculation has persisted over the past week – and it will do until the Chinese Super League window shuts on Tuesday – as to whether the striker will walk out on United mid-season, after manager Jose Mourinho admitted Rooney’s future lies in his hands.

And with Sunday’s clash against Southampton coming up, what better way for the Red Devils legend to bow out than with another Wembley cup final?

The Liverpool-born striker has had a perplexing career – becoming his club’s all-time top scorer while somehow not quite fulfilling his potential for his country.

After exploding onto the Premier League scene with Everton, Rooney bagged 180 league goals in 13 years for the Red Devils – winning the league five times, the Champions League once, and a series of domestic trophies.

The Liverpool-born striker has had a perplexing career – becoming his club’s all-time top scorer while somehow not quite fulfilling his potential for his country.

After exploding onto the Premier League scene with Everton, Rooney bagged 180 league goals in 13 years for the Red Devils – winning the league five times, the Champions League once, and a series of domestic trophies.

Needless to say, we all know his story. A perennial winner. But the playing career of England’s ‘golden generation’ striker is coming to an end. He knows it, the club knows it, and most fans do too.

Mourinho’s new era at Old Trafford has already begun to unfold but until England captain Rooney, now 31, moves on it will be impossible to fully rebuild. United need to focus on the future.

[READ MORE: Rooney has ‘nothing left to prove’ at United, says Bilic]

Glory: Wayne Rooney with the Premier League trophy
Glory: Wayne Rooney with the Premier League trophy

[READ MORE: Three United stars who could push the Red Devils to glory]

We’ve already seen Mourinho ruthlessly opt for the likes of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Zlatan Ibrahimovic over Rooney this season and as time progresses he will only get less and less game time.

Martial and, in particular, Rashford are United’s future, and Rooney recognises that. It’s a question of what next.

A move to China, where he will pick up mega-millions? Or perhaps a romantic return to Everton? That seems unlikely given he will still demand a gigantic wage.

Rooney’s future could still lie in the Premier League – he maintains that strong goalscoring instinct and perhaps a change of scenery could reignite his drive.

But realistically, a Chinese club can offer Rooney the sort of money he is seeking – and after all, why not join a league which now has an abundance of attacking talent?

It would see him move to a country where fans will still idolise him – and let’s not forget Manchester United’s links with Asia means he is also likely to draw in the crowds.

It was under Sir Alex Ferguson’s tutelage that Rooney became one of England’s best striker. He could do well to learn one more lesson from his former manager; leave on a high.

One thing is for sure, the United legend should not taint his career achievements with the club by lingering in the shadows of Mourinho’s rebuilding project until he is forced into retirement.

It would be a sad, and undeserving, way to see Rooney’s flame extinguished.