Wayne leaves Fergie in a pain
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirms striker Wayne Rooney wants to leave the club.
MANCHESTER:
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed that striker Wayne Rooney wants to leave the club, expressing “shock and disappointment” at the stance.
“I had a meeting with him and he intimated to me in his own way that he wanted to leave,” said Ferguson.
Speculation about Rooney’s future had raged for days after Ferguson dropped the 24-year-old for last Saturday’s Premier League clash with West Brom. It came after Rooney publicly contradicted Ferguson’s claims that he was suffering from an ankle injury. Ferguson broke his silence on the saga, confirming that Rooney had requested to leave Old Trafford but denying any argument with the player.
A clearly shell-shocked Ferguson said he was first made aware of Rooney’s desire to leave before the start of the new season, when informed by Chief Executive David Gill.
“It was a shock. I couldn’t believe it. In early discussions – in March I think – he intimated he wanted to stay and wanted a life contract with the club and 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,” said Ferguson, admitting he was baffled by the stance of Rooney, who he signed as a teenager from Everton in 2004.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 20th, 2010.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed that striker Wayne Rooney wants to leave the club, expressing “shock and disappointment” at the stance.
“I had a meeting with him and he intimated to me in his own way that he wanted to leave,” said Ferguson.
Speculation about Rooney’s future had raged for days after Ferguson dropped the 24-year-old for last Saturday’s Premier League clash with West Brom. It came after Rooney publicly contradicted Ferguson’s claims that he was suffering from an ankle injury. Ferguson broke his silence on the saga, confirming that Rooney had requested to leave Old Trafford but denying any argument with the player.
A clearly shell-shocked Ferguson said he was first made aware of Rooney’s desire to leave before the start of the new season, when informed by Chief Executive David Gill.
“It was a shock. I couldn’t believe it. In early discussions – in March I think – he intimated he wanted to stay and wanted a life contract with the club and 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,” said Ferguson, admitting he was baffled by the stance of Rooney, who he signed as a teenager from Everton in 2004.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 20th, 2010.