Rooney’s new Man U contract contains a ‘break clause’

LONDON - Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has reportedly negotiated a break clause in his new five-year contract with the club.

According to the Telegraph, Rooney can leave Man U for 30 million pounds if certain targets are not met on a year-by-year basis.

A source close to the negotiating team said that Rooney’s representatives took legal advice on how to build a clause that would allow the player to leave Old Trafford if the American owners, the Glazer family, were to renege on their promise to invest in the team.

Manchester United’s owners have reportedly pledged to give 100 million pounds to manager Sir Alex Ferguson to buy new players.

The guarantee by the Glazer family had helped Ferguson to persuade striker Rooney to stay back at the club.

The insertion of a break clause gives the player the freedom to move if his valuation is met, but it also protects the club against players who try to force cut-price deals.

In a dramatic change of events, Rooney - who wanted to leave United earlier this week - ended doubts over his future by signing a new five-year contract.

He is now the highest-paid player at United, overtaking defender Rio Ferdinand.

The striker, who was previously on 90,000 pounds per week, is now understood to be earning a basic salary in excess of 150,000 pounds per week. (ANI)