Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho wants to bring the Wayne Rooney saga to an end and has called on the Manchester United striker to make his intentions public.
United have twice rejected bids - believed to be of £23million and £30million - for the England international.
Mourinho claims to have been encouraged by sources close to Rooney to make those approaches and believes the 27-year-old remains unsettled at Old Trafford.
But with just a week of the summer transfer window remaining, Mourinho feels it is almost time to move on and wants Rooney to force the issue or declare he is staying with United.
"I think the person that started the story has to finish the story," said Mourinho after watching Rooney trouble his side throughout Monday's goalless Barclays Premier League draw between the clubs.
"We are not (so) silly (as) to try to get a player from a big club, a club that doesn't sell what they don't want to sell; we are not (so) silly (as) to try to do something if somebody didn't start it.
"It is time for the good of everyone to finish the story, to one side or the other side."
"It is time for the good of everyone to finish the story, to one side or the other side," - Jose Mourinho
Rooney received a great ovation from the United fans prior to kick-off and further good support throughout.
Mourinho suggested he would not be surprised if such backing changed the player's mind.
"The most important thing is that he played very well. He was a real professional. He played for his club, played for the club that pays him, tried to win, tried to score. He was fantastic.
"After that, if he wants to leave, he has to say - or he decides now that he doesn't want to leave anymore.
"But I praise him. He played a fantastic match in these difficult circumstances. They gave him fantastic support, it was good, it was nice - very English."
Opposite number David Moyes remains steadfast in his determination not to sell and said it would be "illegal" for Mourinho to make any request of Rooney.
The Scot hailed the player's efforts on what was his first start of the season and the fans for getting behind him.
He said: "I was very pleased with his performance and I was very pleased with the reaction from the crowd.
"I think Wayne has a positive mind at the moment. I don't think he needs to change. I think his performance said enough. I think his actions showed what he thought."
Moyes refused to give any further information on United's attempts to sign Everton pair Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini after having a joint £28million bid rejected last week.
Moyes said: "I never released we had made the first bid and I certainly wouldn't release it if we made a second bid."
Mourinho meanwhile rubbished suggestions he could sell playmaker Juan Mata. He said: "The stories that are coming out are nonsense stories. He goes nowhere."