Wayne Rooney has told Manchester United he wants to move on after contract talks collapsed, reports claim.
Widespread reports in the press this morning suggest that Red Devils officials have been informed Rooney will not sign a new contract and wants out of the club, which would leave them with little option other than to cash in on their most valuable asset.
There has been plenty of speculation about Sir Alex Ferguson's relationship with his star striker since stories about the 24-year-old's private life first surfaced at the beginning of last month.
Rooney appeared to make a direct challenge to Ferguson's authority on Tuesday after England's Euro 2012 qualifier with Montenegro, when he went out of his way to contradict the Scot's claim that he has been suffering from an ankle injury.
United's reaction to newspaper suggestions that Rooney could quit the club were swiftly countered yesterday. "To suggest Wayne Rooney will be sold in January is nonsense," said a club spokesman.
Ferguson has so far avoided any meaningful public discussion about Rooney's situation but appeared to deliver his own verdict when he left the forward out of his starting line-up for Saturday's Premier League encounter with West Brom, then brought him on as a substitute with 19 minutes remaining and told him to play on the left wing.
Although it was interpreted as the final straw by some, Rooney's relationship with Ferguson soured some time ago. Talks over a new contract have stalled and there is no intention from the player's side to re-open negotiations.
It will come as a shock to many observers to discover the extent and speed of the breakdown, given it was only last season that Rooney scored 34 goals for his club. Even though Rooney's form this season has been well below his normal high standards - his only goal, against West Ham in August, came from the penalty spot - he remains a crowd favourite.
United do have the option of sitting tight and hoping for a thaw in relations. However, they are acutely aware Rooney's value will plummet if he does not leave in January and 12 months after that he would be free to sign pre-contract terms with any club on the continent, and leave on a Bosman free transfer in the summer of 2012.
The Glazer family are unlikely to be keen on that idea, which is why the prospect of Rooney leaving midway through the current campaign has taken hold.
And the United boss is due to address the media on Tuesday, prior to his side's Champions League encounter with Bursaspor at Old Trafford, with questions sure to focus on the reports.
then the club spokesman said that they won't be selling Rooney...
Manchester United have dismissed claims they will sell Wayne Rooney during the January transfer window as "nonsense".
Rooney was left on the bench by Sir Alex Ferguson for Saturday's Premier League clash with West Brom, and only introduced 19 minutes from the end of the 2-2 draw. Even then, Rooney was consigned to the left wing, leading to more intense speculation about the 24-year-old's relationship with Ferguson.
But a club spokesman said: "To suggest Wayne Rooney will be sold in January is nonsense,"
United are aware even that statement could be seized upon and interpreted as opening up the possibility for Rooney to be sold at the end of the season, when his contract will only have 12 months to run.
It is not their policy to talk about contract negotiations in public either and that stance has not changed. However, privately they remain steadfast in their belief that Rooney will eventually sign an extension that will make him one of the club's highest earners.
Ferguson has said little about his star striker in the last few days and totally avoided the issue after Saturday's match.
Yet, purely by leaving him on the bench just days after Rooney astonishingly contradicted his boss by stating he has not been suffering from an ankle injury, the Scot was delivering a damning verdict on the player's recent performances.
What is not known is the reason Rooney opted to speak with the media immediately after England's goalless draw with Montenegro when it would have been far easier to remain silent.
If Rooney took the decision upon himself, it would appear he has been naive given the number of high-profile players who have been drummed out of Old Trafford after clashing with Ferguson.
However, if the move was premeditated, it leaves open the possibility that Rooney himself sees his future away from United, in which case the club would want to maximise their income, as they did with Cristiano Ronaldo.
however, despite the statement issued by Man Utd, it doesn't stop the rumours from building up with Man City & Real Madrid being rumoured to be interested to take Rooney from Man Utd...
Manchester City are preparing a world record bid to tempt local rivals United into selling troubled striker Wayne Rooney to them.
Talks over a new deal have stalled, while the reported breakdown in the relationship between the player and manager Alex Ferguson is the likely reason he started on the bench in Saturday's 2-2 draw with West Brom.
Despite the club's insistence that talk of selling him in January is "nonsense", they may want to cash in on their troubled star before his transfer value plummets at the end of the season.
Just as they did with Carlos Tevez last year, big-spending City are ready to capitalise on their neighbours' comparative financial woes by making a bid that would eclipse the £80 million Real Madrid paid United for Cristiano Ronaldo.
City have the spending power to offer Rooney over £200,000 a week in wages, and they could offer United a fee approaching nine figures that would greatly ease their financial woes. (Daily Mirror)
Real are ready to use striker Karim Benzema as a makeweight in a deal that would bring troubled Rooney to the Bernabeu.
It is thought that Real boss Jose Mourinho would jump at the chance to sign the England forward, despite his poor form since the World Cup.
And Ferguson, a long-time admirer of Benzema, may be tempted to take the France forward as part of the deal.
Benzema left Lyon for the Spanish capital in 2009, but has largely failed to live up to his £30m fee. Now, with Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria also providing competition for places, swapping clubs with Rooney could suit both players. (The Sun)
Rooney and his wife Coleen are ready to move abroad in a bid to re-energise the England striker's career and escape the British media. Following the revelations of his private life, a new life at either Real Madrid or Barcelona appeals. (Daily Telegraph)
so does Real Madrid really need Rooney? Not really as claim by Real Madrid director...
Real Madrid director Jorge Valdano has played down talk of a move for troubled Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.
Rooney was dropped to the bench for Saturday's 2-2 draw at home with West Bromwich Albion, with United manager Alex Ferguson adamant that his star forward remains hampered by an ankle injury, despite Rooney's insistence he is fully fit.
Talk of a breakdown in the relationship between the pair, plus the revelation that contract talks have stalled - with Rooney's current deal expiring at the end of next season - have increased speculation that the England international may move to the Bernabeu.
However, Valdano has asserted that there is no pressing need for the club to sign another big-money forward.
According to local television Telemadrid, Valdano said: "Madrid have two great strikers; (Gonzalo) Higuain and Cristiano (Ronaldo), who already showed last season that they are capable of scoring 60 goals between them.
"As well as that there are (Angel) Di Maria and (Mesut) Ozil, who are going to help these two goalscorers. The question is, who would we move aside if we signed another striker?"
Reports on Monday claimed that United are preparing to sell Rooney in the January transfer window in order to avoid his transfer value falling.
However, Valdano backed up manager Jose Mourinho's claims that the club were not planning to make any signings in January.
He said: "In January there will be neither ins nor outs. June is a long way away."
After initially struggling in front of goal since Mourinho joined in the summer, Real's 4-1 win at Malaga on Saturday means they have now scored 10 goals in their last two matches.
So what do you think? Will Rooney be leaving this January or at the end of the season? or will he stay at Man Utd? Discuss...
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