Man Utd permanently withdraw Wayne Rooney offer as INEOS cut ties with another legend

Manchester United have no intention of returning the offer of an ambassadorial role to Wayne Rooney as part of INEOS’ ongoing cost-cutting measures, according to reports. The Red Devils had previously proposed the position to Rooney but are moving away from ambassadors under the new regime.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe displayed how seriously he is taking the cost cuts at Old Trafford by deciding to terminate Sir Alex Ferguson’s ambassadorial contract at the end of the season.

The legendary Scot is believed to have been earning over £2million a year for his duties since retiring as the club’s manager in 2013.

But he will be welcomed as a guest from the 2025/26 campaign after Ratcliffe baulked at the jaw-dropping figures in United’s accounts.

Any prospect of Rooney returning to Old Trafford as an ambassador in the future is also believed to be off the cards.

According to the Star, United have ruled out making the 39-year-old an ambassador despite his legendary status at the club.

Rooney is the current manager of Championship club Plymouth Argyle, leaving any chance of an ambassadorial offer out of the question anyway.

However, the report claims that United’s fresh stance would stay the same even if the record-breaking England international were out of work.

Rooney was expected to finish his iconic playing career at United before falling out of favour under Jose Mourinho in the 2016/17 season.

That prompted a return to his boyhood club, Everton, where he hung up his boots in 2021 and transitioned into management.

As part of a new contract Rooney signed in 2014, he was also due an ambassadorial position.

The pre-agreement ended when he returned to Goodison Park, but reports at the time claimed he would still be offered a role.

An offer didn’t arrive, though, and it isn’t expected to as INEOS cut ties with the latest United hero in an attempt to prioritise the club’s future.

Rooney scored 253 goals in 559 appearances for the Red Devils, breaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s long-standing record shortly before his exit in 2017.

The heralded No. 10 lifted 16 major trophies during his United career and is the only player in the club’s illustrious history to net more than 250 times.

Rooney was also England’s all-time record goalscorer – with 53 in 120 caps – before Harry Kane took his crown in March 2023.

With Ferguson’s release, Ratcliffe proved that no figure in United’s history was untouchable in his ruthless rebuild. Rooney is no exception.