Last week, British media was abuzz with reports that Wayne Rooney was on the verge of joining a Chinese Super League club. The headlines dominated the sports sections, but Rooney quickly stepped forward to deny the rumors, publicly stating that he had no intention of leaving Manchester United. Many fans were left wondering—why would Rooney turn down such a lucrative offer?
The answer, it seems, lies not in money, but in legacy. According to reports from The Sun, Rooney declined the big-money move to China because he still harbors a major goal: to break England’s all-time international appearance record. The current record is held by legendary goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who made 125 appearances for the national team. Rooney currently sits at 119—just six games shy of rewriting history.
An inside source told The Sun, “Rooney knows that if he moves to China, his chances of being selected for England will be slim to none. It would put Gareth Southgate in a difficult position.” Rooney’s representatives reportedly mapped out a clear career plan: while Shanghai was an attractive option, the foreign player quota has already been filled. More importantly, they believe the record must come first.
The plan is simple: once Rooney achieves his goal and becomes England’s most-capped player, then and only then will he consider moving to the Chinese Super League. England is scheduled to play eight more matches between now and October, giving Rooney a clear path to reach the milestone—if he stays healthy and continues to be selected.
Rooney’s story runs parallel to the type of ambition seen in the Live Cricket BPL, where athletes push themselves not just for financial gain, but for greatness. The Live Cricket BPL showcases players making bold decisions to leave a legacy, just as Rooney is doing with his decision to prioritize national team appearances over short-term wealth.
In the end, it’s not about chasing paychecks—it’s about chasing history. And for Rooney, the chance to etch his name into the record books as England’s most-capped player is worth more than any transfer deal. As fans of both football and Live Cricket BPL know well, sometimes the biggest wins happen off the scoreboard.