Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed Tuesday star striker Wayne Rooney wants to leave the club, expressing “shock and disappointment” at the player’s stance.
“I had a meeting with him. He intimated to me in his own way that he wanted to leave,” Ferguson said at a dramatic press conference ahead of United’s Champions League tie with Turkish side Bursaspor on Wednesday.
Speculation about Rooney’s future had raged for days after Ferguson dropped the 24-year-old England international for last Saturday’s Premier League clash with West Bromwich Albion.
It came after Rooney publicly contradicted Ferguson’s claims that he was suffering from an ankle injury by telling reporters he was fully fit.
Ferguson finally broke his silence on the saga at a press conference on Tuesday, confirming that Rooney had requested to leave Old Trafford but denying any argument with the player.
A clearly shell-shocked Ferguson said he had first been made aware of Rooney’s desire to leave before the start of the new season when informed by United chief executive David Gill.
“It was a shock. I couldn’t believe it,” said Ferguson.
“In early discussions – in March I think – we had discussions with him, he intimated he wanted to stay, that he wanted a life contract with the club, that he was at the best club in the world.
“It was terribly disappointing to get the news. We couldn’t understand it. We have to keep the door open because he is such a good player,” Ferguson said, admitting he was baffled by the position of Rooney, who he signed as a teenager from Everton in 2004.
“We have done nothing but help him since he came to this club, that is why this is such a mystery to us. We’ve helped him with his private life and other matters,” Ferguson said.
“So we’re as bemused as anyone can be because we can’t understand why he would want to leave a club that is so successful as we are in British football.”
In another twist, Ferguson revealed that Rooney had been injured in training on Tuesday and would not be in the squad for Wednesday’s game with Bursaspor.
Ferguson also expressed disappointment that Rooney had contradicted his comments about being injured, insisting he had been nursing an ankle knock.
“Why he came out and said that you can only guess yourself. It was disappointing he said that,” Ferguson said in an interview with United’s MUTV television channel.
“He got an ankle injury in the Rangers game. He was seen clearly hobbling at half-time. He confirmed it himself in an interview with Sky,” Ferguson said.
“My idea, based on the fact he wasn’t playing that well, was to leave him out of the Sunderland game, make sure his ankle is properly prepared for the next game, and give him a 10-day recovery so he could play for England.
“My hope was that by playing for England at Wembley he could recapture his form and we could kick on.”
Media reports had said Rooney and Ferguson had fallen out after the publication of lurid tabloid reports about the player’s private life, with Rooney complaining about a perceived lack of support from Ferguson.
With Rooney having only 18 months left on his existing contract, United will now likely be forced to sell their prized asset, valued at 50 million pounds, in order to recoup as high a price as possible for the player.
Manchester United’s cross-town rivals Manchester City have emerged as the favourite to land Rooney, with the player’s wife reportedly reluctant to entertain a move overseas.
The Guardian said any move by Rooney to Eastlands would represent the “most rancorous and staggering transfer of modern times.”
The newspaper reported City would do everything they could to land the player, noting that City’s administrator Brian Marwood has a long-standing association with Rooney’s agent, Paul Stretford.
“We hadn’t discussed signing Rooney until the last week because we never thought he would be available, just like we have never discussed signing Lionel Messi from Barcelona,” a senior Manchester City figure told the paper.
A move to Manchester City would likely see Rooney become the highest paid player in English football, more than doubling his current salary of 90,000 pounds per week to as much as 250,000 pounds per week.
They are the current leading soccer tipsters in this month competition. See also tipsters rankings.
![]() |
frank_senso
posts a In-Play 1X2 tip on Aston Villa vs Liverpool 18 minutes ago |
![]() |
frank_senso
posts a In-Play Double Chance tip on Aston Villa vs Liverpool 18 minutes ago |
![]() |
Shonibare14
posts a In-Play Over / Under tip on PSV vs Juventus 26 minutes ago |
![]() |
Shonibare14
posts a In-Play Over / Under tip on PSV vs Juventus 26 minutes ago |
![]() |
mbhanderi
posts a In-Play 1X2 tip on Aston Villa vs Liverpool 40 minutes ago |
![]() |
Boomtip
posts a 1X2 tip on Roma vs Porto 45 minutes ago |
![]() |
penkTOIC
posts a In-Play Double Chance tip on Aston Villa vs Liverpool 46 minutes ago |
![]() |
Boomtip
posts a 1X2 tip on Ajax vs Union Saint-Gilloise 47 minutes ago |
![]() |
Boomtip
posts a 1X2 tip on Lion City Sailors FC vs SCG Muangthong United 49 minutes ago |
![]() |
chinwubachuka03
posts a In-Play Over / Under tip on Real Madrid vs Manchester City 50 minutes ago |
Upcoming football matches with excellent head to head records over their opponents.
|
Sign in to view more football matches.
Football clubs who play better for their home games H2H.
|
Sign in to view more football matches.
Football clubs that play well for their away games.
|
Sign in to view more football matches.
Motivated teams after winning five matches in a row or they have maintained a ten-match unbeaten run. The bookmakers label them as favourites for a reason.
Teams in crisis after five consecutive defeats or they did not win their last ten football matches. You should avoid betting on these underdogs.
Teams having a draw in the last five matches.
Teams that have won all their home matches.
|
Sign in to view more football teams.
Teams that have not lost at home matches.
|
Sign in to view more football teams.
Teams that have not won at away matches.
|
Sign in to view more football teams.
This tipsters ranking is based on single picks excluding doubles and multi accumulators. For the full ranking click here.
Tipsters with consecutive winnings in their recent predictions.
Tipsters whom have lost a few matches in a row. Bad luck you call it.
It makes my analysis of odds sharp, and it also keeps me closer to what is happening in terms of results. What I hope I will benefit is the skill to always makes a profit in gambling
From as little as $1 per soccer tip.
|
Arbitrage is an effective way to make guaranteed profits without losing your money.
Analyze soccer matches, inclusive of past results, head to head stats, today match fixtures, live soccer odds, players and team form.
Check the latest and fastest live score results for all football matches. Know who are the goalscorers, yellow card and red card offenders.
Read up these useful tips for soccer betting.
Get the listings of soccer leagues and competitions for each region, including past seasons results and football statistics.
Want to bet on a match today? Check out the list of today match fixtures.
Read MoreGet the match results for all the soccer matches around the globe. Inclusive of half-time, full-time results.
Read MoreAre you an expert in soccer betting? Join SoccerPunter Tipsters competition to challenge against the top football tipsters and win prizes!
Read MoreCopyright © 2002-2025 SoccerPunter Pte. Ltd. All rights reserved.
Be the first to comment: