Re: Rooney Wants Out...
Here's some more about the alleged detail.
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Wayne Rooney did not look like much of a troubled man as he stood by the Old Trafford touchline conducting interviews for one of his sponsors late on Saturday.
With his wife and baby son in attendance, this was very much the Rooney family image that ‘OK’ magazine would pay thousands to portray.
As is often the case, though, the appearance was deceptive.
Outburst: Wayne Rooney was overheard on England duty telling team-mates he would need to find another club soon
In his own mind, he already knew that his time at Old Trafford was running down.
Manchester’s most famous Liverpudlian had fallen out of love with the club he was so fond of saying would bring him everything he would ever need.
A week earlier in the secretive surroundings of an England training camp, the clues were there.
Rooney is normally a relaxed, accommodating figure on England duty. He is what is often called by people in football a ‘good tourist’.
By all accounts, however, his behaviour in the run-up to last week’s game against Montenegro was altogether different.
He looked, according to those who know him, like a man beset by personal and professional worries.
Acting differently: Rooney's behaviour in the lead-up to last week's England match prompted concern from team-mates
It led to a number of England players asking if he was OK and, by way of reply, he made little attempt to disguise his frustrations with life at Old Trafford.
Rooney, for example, was heard to complain to England team-mates that he was ‘fed up’ and would need to find a new club soon.
Such behaviour is not uncommon in football. Mostly, it is just bluster.
But one source told Sportsmail that this was different as Rooney used expletives when describing his club.
The source said: ‘Wayne did not look like a guy making idle threats ... more like a person determined to prove a point.’
United moved quickly yesterday to deny one story that he will be sold in January, describing the Sunday newspaper revelation as ‘nonsense’.
Denials: Manchester United reacted quickly to talk Rooney would be sold
Sportsmail’s sources, however, say Rooney is ‘determined to go... either now or at the end of his contract’ when he would be available on a free transfer.
If things are irretrievable, United will surely attempt to get the highest transfer fee possible, with Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho one likely outpost. But with his contract running down that could be difficult.
For the club and manager Sir Alex Ferguson, this latest development is little short of a disaster.
This is bigger than the sales of Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham.
Rooney — at least the 35-goal Rooney of last season — has been the heartbeat of Ferguson’s team for a long time.
To lose him would change everything.
Inside the players’ tunnel at Old Trafford on Saturday, the ‘R’ word was pretty much off-limits for those journalists fortunate enough to be invited to interview United staff.
It was suggested that no one from the BBC should broach the Rooney subject or an interview with United’s assistant manager Mike Phelan would be terminated.
It was classic Ferguson behaviour. Stare down a problem by putting up the shutters and hope it will go away. It has worked before but it won’t work on this occasion.
The only thing that looks set to go away now is Rooney himself. With just a season-and-a-half left on his current deal, the clock is ticking for United.
Rooney — bound to receive offers from across the world — holds all the aces and Ferguson is not used to that.
He knows his team is not good enough to challenge Chelsea without Rooney. Yet, he cannot hang on to him beyond next summer or the club — more than £700million in debt — will lose him for a fraction of his real worth.
How United react and what Ferguson will say when he faces the media tomorrow (he is contractually obliged to speak before Champions League games) is open to debate.
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