Manchester United Transfer News: Mourinho Wants Rooney's Final Decision in 48 Hours

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has put a timeline on Wayne Rooney's transfer to Stamford Bridge this summer.

The Portuguese manager said that the player, who began the speculation by declaring that he wanted to leave, needs to definitively take action within the next 48 hours.

'We didn't start the story," Mourinho told BBC Match of the Day. "Somebody start the story by saying clearly I want to go to Chelsea, I don't want to stay at Manchester United."

"We have 24-48 hours to close it or we move on," he continued. "We are trying to get a player from a big club and they don't want to sell. We wouldn't try to get someone if he didn't start it. It's time to make a decision."

Mourinho insisted that his club's interest is born out of Rooney suggesting that he would like to leave Old Trafford.

"We are not crazy to find good players who say they are happy at their clubs but I think he has to say I want to leave or he has to say I want to stay," Mourinho said.

"The person who started the story has to finish the story," he added. "I want him to say if he wants to stay or go. A club like us, a manager like me and the people who work with me are not silly."

Rooney played 90 minutes of United's clash with Chelsea on Monday. The game finished 0-0 but the England international was one of the stand out performers.

"He was a real professional he tried to win, score, he was fantastic," said Mourinho. "After that if he wants to leave he has to say. If he doesn't want to leave any more we respect it and we say thank you and we move on."

The former Real Madrid manager highlighted Rooney's ability to play under such circumstances as testament to his character on the field.

"He played a fantastic match in difficult circumstances," Mourinho said. "He told someone close to him that is very important that he wanted to leave. Many players in this situation, they can't express themselves in the pitch. He did, he was fantastic."