Sir Alex Ferguson’s complete statement about Wayne Rooney's intent to leave Manchester United (Part 1)
Manchester United's legendary manager, Sir Alex Ferguson has finally confirmed that his superstar striker, Wayne Rooney wants to leave and has refused to sign an extension contract with the club.
With Wayne’s current deal due to expire at the end of next season, Red Devils were keen to sign an extension with him but they were extremely disappointed when the approach was knocked back.
The 24-year-old English striker has dominated the front and back pages this week after rumours emerged that he wasn't ready to extend his deal with United that has just eighteen more months to run.
With United’s fiercest rivals, Manchester City as well as Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona all linked with a big money swoop for Rooney's signature, Red Devils were earlier forced to deny reports that their star player would be sold in the upcoming January
transfer window.
While speaking to reporters in the build up to midweek’s UEFA Champions League fixture- a game Rooney will miss after his ankle injury sustained during training- Sir Alex issued a lengthy statement to confirm the speculations that the last season's 34 goals
scorer and United's only inspirational players wants a move away from Old Trafford.
Ferguson said, "David telephoned me and said that he was on his way over because he had some bad news. His agent said he wouldn't sign his contract and wanted away. It was a shock. I couldn't believe it."
He added, "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 just don't know what's changed the boy's mind really."
Sir Alex revealed that he did try to change the attacker’s mind, saying, "I had a meeting with him, and he intimated to me, in his own way, that he wanted to leave. We had a discussion about the whole situation. I said 'the only thing I want from you Wayne
is to respect and honour the club's position and its traditions and behave like a proper professional and we will try and see it through'.
Fergi further stated, "I don't know if he's done that. I've got doubts because we've had all these things about falling out with me and all this nonsense. It's disappointing. We've done everything we can to help Wayne Rooney since he's come to this club."
"I did say to him, as David Gill intimated, that there was an offer there if he was prepared to accept it. It was an offer that never got to any financial discussions. I know that David was ready to offer him a contract that would be difficult to better
elsewhere."
Not that Sir Alex sensed there was anything wrong with offering big money to a big player. He maintained: "That is what you do with top players. There is no big problem with that. We have been doing this kind of thing for quite a while now. Contract issues,
over the last 10 years, have accelerated to a degree where they are quite phenomenal."
Recently, Rooney publicly contradicted his manager's claim that he was suffering from an ankle injury that kept him out of the matches against Valencia and Sunderland this month but the manager tried to tone this issue down, saying, "First of all, I must
tell you, I have never had an argument with Wayne Rooney at any time."
(To be continued in Part 2)
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