Sir Alex Ferguson: Fans' reaction affected underperforming Wayne Rooney
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has said he cannot account for Wayne Rooney's dip in form, adding that the United fans' discontent at his stated desire to leave the club was what led to the striker prolonging his contract.
Prior to the start of the current season, Rooney informed Ferguson via his agent, Paul Stretford, that he wanted to leave the club.
His desire to leave came after the striker failed to perform for the English national team at this summer's World Cup. His dip in form has continued in United's current league campaign, during which Rooney has only scored once in six appearances.
"I don't know the reason for his loss of form because it started in the World Cup," Ferguson told his club's official magazine Inside United. "Whether some clubs have been filling his head in that period to affect him we don't know. I have not asked him
that. The important thing is for us to put it behind us and move on. But certainly something has been troubling him."
Rooney, who is expected to be sidelined for at least another three weeks with an ankle injury, was widely criticized by the United fans after Ferguson revealed that the striker wanted to leave the club on 19 October.
Ferguson, who said Rooney had "realised the magnitude of Manchester United" after wanting to leave, added that the fans' reaction to Rooney's position played a part in his decision to stay.
"He won't have enjoyed that. You know, nobody enjoys that sort of attention. Especially after the supporters have idolised him from the minute he's come here and done nothing but support him through thick and thin. He would have been taken aback by that.
There's no doubt about that."
On Friday, 22 October, Rooney signed a five-year contract with United that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2015.
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