Rooney wants to leave Manchester United – The news breaks out
Refusing to take questions from journalists at the uniquely memorable press conference, Fergie only disclosed his personal opinion on Wayne Rooney’s decision to leave the club, and he gave away nothing but “facts” as he also delegated the judgment of the leading board on the matter. He made his points direct, and hence paved unreservedly no way to any misunderstanding between him and those hearing about the news.
"We would like to present the facts because that is important… To present the facts as we understand them,” he said.
"David Gill had a preliminary talk with his (Rooney’s) agent at the end of last season and it was to be continued after the World Cup. He told me he was on his way over from Carrington and said 'I have some bad news for you.’ His (Rooney’s) agent had intimated he wouldn't sign a contract and he wanted away.
Yes, Wayne Rooney’s choice to leave is certainly bad news for the entire family of Manchester United; and with total guilelessness, the expert coach did not hesitate to express his sadness over the story. Ferguson continued:
"It was a shock. We couldn't believe it because, in earlier discussions - as early as February or March I think - he intimated he wanted to stay, that he wanted to sign a life contract. He was happy at the club; he was at the best (football) club in the world.
"I must say it was terribly disappointing when I got the news because we could not quite understand it. I had a meeting with him (Wayne Rooney) and he said to me, in his own way, that he wanted to leave.”
Wayne Rooney’s Inexplicable Decision – A memento for Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer
Back in the summer of 2009, Ferguson also had his heart broken by the historical transfer of his one-time winger Cristiano Ronaldo. The 2007/08 FIFA Player of the Year Ronaldo portrayed the Manchester United coach as a caring man always giving the necessary amount of support when needed: “He has been my father in sport, one of the most important factors and most influential in my career,” Ronaldo said.
Indeed, although Fergie is said to occasionally force his men to submit to his “hairdryer”, he has generally been given a good image by most of his players. Probably, football performers with knowledge of the everyday atmosphere within the Red Devils’ army find no credible point against the 68-year-old manager to render him as an unfriendly person.
But it is in fact out of this idea that mystery emerges - the mystery behind the decision of Manchester United’s top stars to leave the club over the years. When this topic is brought up, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo are beyond doubt 2 names that come in mind.
Now, looking at what can be called the “new Wayne Rooney scandal”, one just cannot trace the source of the 24-year-old’s conclusion over his career at Old Trafford. “The one thing I said to him was, 'Respect this club, I don't want any nonsense from you'. I don't know if he has done that,” Fergie told the club’s official channel MUTV.
“I’ve doubts on that… We are reading all these things about falling out with me and all that nonsense. What we are seeing now in the media is disappointing because we have done everything we can for Wayne Rooney, since the minute he's come to the club.
“We've always been there as a harbor for him. Any time he is been in trouble, the advice we've given him… I’ve even been prepared to give him financial advice, many times.
"But you do that for your players, not just Wayne Rooney. That's Manchester United and this is a club which bases all its history and its tradition on the loyalty and trust between managers and players and the club. That goes back to the days of Sir Matt, that's what it (Manchester United) is founded on.
“Wayne (Rooney)'s been a beneficiary of this help, just as Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and all the players have been. That is what we're there for.”
Ferguson further highlighted the “exemplary relation” that was established at Man United between the players and their superiors. Again focusing on the support the club has repeatedly offered to Wayne Rooney, Sir Alex confessed:
"I don't know how many times we've helped him (here) in terms of his private life and other matters, and he's not the only one who gets that kind of privilege because Manchester United is that kind of club. We do that with all (our) players.
"It is part of your job here that you look after your players, and that creates a tremendous loyalty. It has always been a good foundation of our club.”
Surely, the complication in the whole matter lies in the verity that Rooney did not leave the club for obvious reasons, but rather in search of an inner satisfaction beyond the thoughts of the managing board at Manchester United. Even though Fergie might be aware of it, true and detailed explanations are likely to be required.
Yet in the meantime, the manager’s mind and heart remain puzzled. Briefly itemizing the expensive boons constituting the club’s inimitable greatness as in an attempt to discover what was missing in Rooney’s milieu, the coach said:
"We are as bemused as anyone can be because we don't quite understand why he (Wayne Rooney) would want to leave a club that no one can deny is one of the most successful in British football. We've won 40 major trophies, countless cup finals… (We’ve) got a fantastic history, a great stadium, (and) great training arrangements.
"We don't understand it, so I can't answer any question about ‘why is he doing it (forcing to leave Manchester United)?'. We can speculate, we can offer opinions, but it won't matter a dickie bird, simply because the player says he's adamant he wants to leave.
Wayne Rooney, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Manchester United – Is it really over?
Though it appears the situation is pretty much formed and uncontrollable, it still seems a last-minute call from the striker would be happily welcomed. “We’ve got to a stage now where I feel that we still have to keep the door open for him (Wayne Rooney),” affirmed Ferguson.
“Simply because he's such a good player, and because we've done nothing but help him since he's come to this club. (But) that's another mystery for us.
"We have to deal with the next part of that, which we will do as best we can, in relation to this request (Wayne Rooney’s request). I can't do more than what we've done and said at the moment because, in my mind, we still have the door open and who knows?”
Nobody knows what will happen next, in truth… Will there be a late change in Rooney’s decision to leave Manchester United? Will Wayne ignore his fans and follow the steps of Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham who both “broke the heart” of Fergie for greater success? And most importantly, is Rooney making the right choice?
Perhaps yes, perhaps no; but regardless, there has been rumors linking Rooney with big money-spending city rivals Manchester City. Such a move is certainly not recommended for the forward, but if ever he is willing to solely listen to his heart and act as a fearless man, then the next chapters of the “Rooney-Ferguson-Manchester United” saga will be nothing less than eye-catching.
