The former United full-back believes the club shouldn’t even consider selling the striker to Premier League rivals Chelsea.
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Gary Neville believes that Manchester United should only sell Wayne Rooney if they have a major player lined up to replace him and urged his old club not to sell the striker to Chelsea, Sky Sports reports.
Rooney is looking to leave United this summer, with reports suggesting that he is ready to hand in a transfer request in a bid to force his way out of the club.
Chelsea have made Rooney their main transfer target for the rest of the summer and have already had two bids rejected by United for the striker.
Neville has warned the Red Devils that selling Rooney to Chelsea could give the Blues a massive advantage in the Premier League title race.
Neville said: “Manchester United cannot sell Wayne Rooney to Chelsea Football Club – unless they bring in a major, major signing like Gareth Bale or Cristiano Ronaldo”.
“You have absolute gold in Rooney, someone who is proven over six, seven, eight years; who delivers season in, season out; and is one of the top goals and assists man in the league consistently – even last season when he wasn’t at his strongest”.
Rooney is thought to be keen on a move to Chelsea as he would like opportunity to work with Jose Mourinho.
However, United seem unlikely to sell the striker to one of their main Premier League rivals and are more likely to sell Rooney to a club abroad.