Sir Alex Ferguson confirms that Wayne Rooney wants to leave Manchester United
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Wayne Rooney, the club's star striker, wants to leave Old Trafford to play for a different club.
Ferguson, who spoke at a press conference ahead of United's Champions League game against Bursaspor on Wednesday, 20 October, confirmed recent speculation that the English striker has been feeling unsettled at the club, which he joined in 2004.
"I was in the office on 14 August and David [Gill, United's chief executive,] phoned me to say he wasn't signing a contract," the baffled Ferguson told reporters. "I was dumbfounded. Only months before he was saying he was at the greatest club in the world."
Rooney made his will to leave United known just as the club was preparing a lucrative contract for the striker, which Ferguson described as being, "...difficult to match elsewhere".
The 24-year-old's situation at the club worsened in September, when allegations of an extramarital affair were levelled against him in the press.
It was later reported that Ferguson fell out with Rooney when the striker claimed he was fit to play after being rested for the Premier League game against Sunderland earlier this month. Ferguson denied that a rift ever took place, saying that he and Rooney
"...never had an argument" during the striker's slow start to the season.
Ferguson struggles to understand Rooney's decision
The Scot added that he could not understand why Rooney has opted to leave United in light of the club's glorious achievements in the last two decades.
"We have won 40 major trophies, countless cup finals, have a fantastic history, a great stadium, great training arrangements. We don't understand [why he would want to leave]. I can't answer any questions about why he is doing it. We can speculate. We can
have opinions. It won't matter a dickie-bird, simply because the player is adamant he wants to leave."
United, who is likely to already be in search of a replacement for the striker, could make a significant addition to the club's squad during the January transfer window, should Rooney opt to leave midway through the current season.
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