Ferguson Dismisses Rooney Exit Reports

Despite the transfer window now being closed there will still be plenty of gossip doing the rounds in the newspapers, so we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest transfer rumours. Today, Sir Alex Ferguson dismisses talk of Wayne Rooney leaving the club.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has dismissed reports suggesting Wayne Rooney is set to leave Old Trafford this summer by insisting the striker will still be at the club next season, according to the BBC.

Rooney was dropped for Tuesday’s crucial Champions League second leg with Real Madrid at Old Trafford and reports on Thursday suggested the 27-year-old was now set to leave the Premier League leaders at the end of the season.

However, speaking at his weekly press conference ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup quarter final clash with Chelsea, Ferguson has hit back at these reports insisting Rooney will not be sold this summer and gave his word that the striker would still be at Old Trafford next season:

“He’ll be here next year,” Ferguson said. “You can have my word on that.”

“There is no issue between myself and Wayne Rooney. To suggest we don’t talk is nonsense.” Ferguson told the BBC

Rooney was left on the bench for United controversial 2-1 defeat to Madrid in midweek for tactical reasons, with Ferguson preferring Danny Welbeck and Nani in support of Robin van Persie, and the United boss insists the striker understood the reasoning behind the decision. He continued:

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

“I left out Shinji Kagawa after he scored a hat-trick. I thought I would get more stick for that.” Ferguson told the BBC

The BBC claim that Fergie also confirmed Rooney would be involved against Chelsea this weekend but stopped short of saying whether he would start or not.

“Why should I help anyone by telling them my team? We don’t do that,” Ferguson said. “But Wayne does need a lot of football. He has always been that type.” Fergie told the BBC

Despite being slightly overshadowed by the arrival of Robin van Persie in the summer, Rooney has still scored 14 goals in 24 starts this season and has proven on more than one occasion he is still a vital part of the United first team set-up.

While Rooney would no doubt have been disappointed to be left out against Madrid, it’s hard to question the decisions of a manager of Sir Alex Ferguson’s experience and it has to be said, the decision to drop Rooney was working perfectly until the controversial Nani sending off.

So Fergie insists the striker will still be at Old Trafford next season and it seems the media have once again put two and two together and made five.

Do you think Rooney will still be at United next season? Get involved in the comments section below.