Angry United deny they're selling Rooney
Published 22:10 06/01/12 By David McDonnell
(2) Furious Wayne Rooney has denied he had fallen out with Sir Alex Ferguson and is on his way out of Manchester United.
Rooney pledged his commitment to United and Ferguson amid claims the £50million-rated striker was poised to leave Old Trafford in the summer following the breakdown of their relationship.
United took the unprecedented step of issuing a statement - before the story was even published - denying any bust-up between Ferguson and Rooney, as well as the potential sale of their star player.
Rooney, writing on his official Twitter account, said: "The Independent are talking absolute rubbish my future is with Manchester United and the club and I are totally committed to each other.
"The manager and I have no issues and anyone who says different don't know what they are talking about."
Earlier, United had issued an emphatic denial of a fall-out between Rooney and Ferguson, as well as refuting suggestions the England international would be sold this summer.
The statement read: "Manchester United and Wayne Rooney have been made aware of the theme of an article in tomorrow's Independent newspaper.
"We have not seen the detail, but can assure all United fans that the Manager and the Club are committed to Wayne Rooney and Wayne is committed to the Manager and the Club.
"The player and the Manager have always had and retain the utmost respect for each other and look forward to working together in the coming seasons.
"Any suggestion that Manchester United and Wayne Rooney are to part company is complete nonsense."
Speculation that Rooney and Ferguson had fallen out intensified this week following the striker's latest disciplinary transgression, which saw him feel the full force of his manager's fury.
Rooney was dropped and fined by Ferguson after turning up for training the worse for wear following a Boxing Day night out with team-mates Jonny Evans and Darron Gibson, who were also punished.
Ferguson disciplined all three players but the United boss took a hard line with Rooney, axing him from United's 3-2 defeat of Blackburn, which the 26-year-old watched from an Old Trafford executive box.
The United boss refused to discuss Rooney's latest disciplinary transgression at his weekly media briefing on Friday, trotting out his usual "I'm not getting into that" when the topic was raised.
But in an interview with US radio station Sirius XM earlier this week Ferguson did give an insight into why he dropped Rooney, citing the player's perceived below-par performances in training.
The Scot effectively admitted Rooney was dropped for the Blackburn game for turning up for training in no fit state to be put through his paces by United's coaching staff.
"We had a few training sessions and he [Rooney] missed a few," he said.
"You've got to be fit to play in the Premier League - you can't miss training sessions."
That was a clear reference to Rooney's lethargic training the morning after his Boxing Day antics.
Rooney was restored to United's starting line-up for Wednesday's 3-0 defeat at Newcastle but cut a frustrated, ineffective figure and was replaced by Ferguson with 16 minutes left of the game.
When Ferguson was asked yesterday whether he felt Rooney was trying too hard, to make up for being dropped, the United boss said: "That's not a crime. Trying too hard's not a crime."
Ferguson and Rooney have been at loggerheads before.
The striker threatened to leave United 15 months ago by stating he would not sign a new deal because the club did not match his own ambition and had not signed players of sufficient quality.
On that occasion Ferguson talked Rooney round, the 26-year-old eventually signing a new five-year deal worth £200,000-a-week.
But many United fans have never forgiven the forward for his perceived disloyalty towards the club.
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Rooney pledged his commitment to United and Ferguson amid claims the £50million-rated striker was poised to leave Old Trafford in the summer following the breakdown of their relationship.
United took the unprecedented step of issuing a statement - before the story was even published - denying any bust-up between Ferguson and Rooney, as well as the potential sale of their star player.
Rooney, writing on his official Twitter account, said: "The Independent are talking absolute rubbish my future is with Manchester United and the club and I are totally committed to each other.
Earlier, United had issued an emphatic denial of a fall-out between Rooney and Ferguson, as well as refuting suggestions the England international would be sold this summer.
The statement read: "Manchester United and Wayne Rooney have been made aware of the theme of an article in tomorrow's Independent newspaper.
"We have not seen the detail, but can assure all United fans that the Manager and the Club are committed to Wayne Rooney and Wayne is committed to the Manager and the Club.
"The player and the Manager have always had and retain the utmost respect for each other and look forward to working together in the coming seasons.
"Any suggestion that Manchester United and Wayne Rooney are to part company is complete nonsense."
Speculation that Rooney and Ferguson had fallen out intensified this week following the striker's latest disciplinary transgression, which saw him feel the full force of his manager's fury.
Rooney was dropped and fined by Ferguson after turning up for training the worse for wear following a Boxing Day night out with team-mates Jonny Evans and Darron Gibson, who were also punished.
Ferguson disciplined all three players but the United boss took a hard line with Rooney, axing him from United's 3-2 defeat of Blackburn, which the 26-year-old watched from an Old Trafford executive box.
The United boss refused to discuss Rooney's latest disciplinary transgression at his weekly media briefing on Friday, trotting out his usual "I'm not getting into that" when the topic was raised.
But in an interview with US radio station Sirius XM earlier this week Ferguson did give an insight into why he dropped Rooney, citing the player's perceived below-par performances in training.
The Scot effectively admitted Rooney was dropped for the Blackburn game for turning up for training in no fit state to be put through his paces by United's coaching staff.
"We had a few training sessions and he [Rooney] missed a few," he said.
"You've got to be fit to play in the Premier League - you can't miss training sessions."
That was a clear reference to Rooney's lethargic training the morning after his Boxing Day antics.
Rooney was restored to United's starting line-up for Wednesday's 3-0 defeat at Newcastle but cut a frustrated, ineffective figure and was replaced by Ferguson with 16 minutes left of the game.
When Ferguson was asked yesterday whether he felt Rooney was trying too hard, to make up for being dropped, the United boss said: "That's not a crime. Trying too hard's not a crime."
Ferguson and Rooney have been at loggerheads before.
The striker threatened to leave United 15 months ago by stating he would not sign a new deal because the club did not match his own ambition and had not signed players of sufficient quality.
On that occasion Ferguson talked Rooney round, the 26-year-old eventually signing a new five-year deal worth £200,000-a-week.
But many United fans have never forgiven the forward for his perceived disloyalty towards the club.
Mancini: 'Sore' Alex Ferguson can't admit we're No.1
Fergie expects Yaya Toure to play on Sunday
Lescott: United already regret calling us noisy neighbours
Fergie: We always expect a result against City
Team News: Balotelli, Barry, the Toures and Smalling all set to miss Cup tie
Police issue warning for City and United fans
Fergie accepts noisy neighbours aren't going away
Mancini: We must go all out for title - which means buying again
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