belfasttelegraph

Friday 24 May 2013

Ferguson rubbishes Wayne Rooney rift 'nonsense' - the boy's staying put at Old Trafford

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has dismissed claims of a rift with Wayne Rooney and said the striker will not be on the transfer list this summer

File photo dated 01/09/2004 of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (l) and new signing Wayne Rooney (r) with Joe Ruane (c) who held a sign pleading for the club to sign Rooney at the match against Dinamo Buchrest. Wayne Rooney will still be a Manchester United player next season, manager Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted. Ferguson also says Rooney will be involved against Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday
File photo dated 01/09/2004 of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (l) and new signing Wayne Rooney (r) with Joe Ruane (c) who held a sign pleading for the club to sign Rooney at the match against Dinamo Buchrest. Wayne Rooney will still be a Manchester United player next season, manager Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted. Ferguson also says Rooney will be involved against Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 05:  Wayne Rooney of Manchester United comes on as a substitute during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second leg match between Manchester United and Real Madrid at Old Trafford on March 5, 2013 in Manchester, United Kingdom.  (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 05: Wayne Rooney of Manchester United comes on as a substitute during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second leg match between Manchester United and Real Madrid at Old Trafford on March 5, 2013 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
File photo dated 30/01/2013 of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (right) speaking with Wayne Rooney on the touchline. Wayne Rooney will still be a Manchester United player next season, manager Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted
File photo dated 30/01/2013 of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (right) speaking with Wayne Rooney on the touchline. Wayne Rooney will still be a Manchester United player next season, manager Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted
Wayne Rooney will still be a Manchester United player next season, manager Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted. Ferguson also says Rooney will be involved against Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday
Wayne Rooney will still be a Manchester United player next season, manager Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted. Ferguson also says Rooney will be involved against Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday

Alex Ferguson has insisted that Wayne Rooney remains an integral part of his team.

And  Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini does not think he would have a realistic chance of signing Rooney from rivals United.

Ferguson left Rooney out of the United line-up for Tuesday's Champions League defeat by Real Madrid, since when it has been suggested the Red Devils boss would be willing to accept an offer for the striker this summer.

Mancini said he would be surprised if something such as that led to his departure.

The Italian said: "I can understand maybe Rooney would be upset if he didn't play but these are things that can happen in every team. After one week it is finished."

Speaking ahead of Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final with Chelsea, Ferguson denied that was the case.

"He will be here next year, you have my word on that," he said.

"There is no issue between myself and Wayne Rooney. To suggest we don't talk is nonsense.

"He understood the reasons completely. Tactically we got it right. We don't always but we did then.

"There are no issues with the player and he will be involved on Sunday.

"I left out Shinji Kagawa after he scored a hat-trick. I thought I would get more stick for that."

Ferguson is still bitter about the circumstances of Tuesday's defeat, in particular the dismissal of Nani, on which the entire contest turned.

"It is hard to keep your faith when you have things like that," said Ferguson.

Ferguson refused to say whether Rooney would actually start on Sunday.

And he again repeated his belief that the 27-year-old needed to play matches in order to retain full fitness, an assessment that has raised so much debate over the past few days.

"Why should I help anyone by telling them my team? We don't do that," said Ferguson.

"But Wayne does need a lot of football. He has always been that type. That has always been the case."

Ferguson said he had been concerned about the appointment of Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir prior to Tuesday's game.

Cakir has now sent off seven players from English teams, but never one against them.

"I was concerned. I said that to my staff," he said.

"I had a big worry about it but it is gone now. There is nothing we can do about it."

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