Source: FOOTYMAD
Rooney questions Man Utd's ability to strengthen
Wayne Rooney has insisted his request to leave Manchester United is because he feels the side are no longer capable of challenging for major trophies - as good as drawing a line under his time at Old Trafford. According to the United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Rooney told the club he would not sign a new contract in August. This was kept private for two months, but Rooney's agent briefed journalists on Sunday making it clear that he wanted to leave Old Trafford. There were allegations of a fallout with Ferguson, but all off the record. Ferguson responded on Tuesday by breaking his silence, saying that the striker, 24 had said as far back as August 14 he did not wish to stay.Ferguson suggested Rooney had disrespected the club through Sunday's leak. Rooney denied making his mind up two months ago, but confirmed he wanted to leave. He said it was because the club no longer had the resources to sign world-class players to replace ageing players in their squad such as Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. "I met with [the United chief executive] David Gill last week and he did not give me any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad. I then told him that I would not be signing a new contract," he said. "It is absolutely true, as he said, that my agent and I have had a number of meetings with the club about a new contract. During those meetings in August I asked for assurances about the continued ability of the club to attract the top players in the world. "For me its all about winning trophies - as the club has always done under Sir Alex. Because of that I think the questions I was asking were justified. Despite recent difficulties, I know I will always owe Sir Alex Ferguson a huge debt. He is a great manager and mentor who has helped and supported me from the day he signed me from Everton when I was only 18." Rooney's relationship with United is clearly strained, but potential suitors have been reluctant to put themselves forward. His credentials are clear, but the managers of Manchester City and Real Madrid - the highest-spending clubs in England and Spain - have implied they believe he will stay at Old Trafford.
