After so much media speculation over the future of Wayne Rooney, Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager has admitted, in a statement that he read to the media that Wayne Rooney, Manchester United's star striker wants to leave Old Trafford.It is bitterly disappointing news for the Manchester United fan, who adore Rooney - chanting his name at Old Trafford, and supporting him, even through the recent difficult times in his exposed private life.
Ferguson said:
"I can't answer questions about why Rooney is doing what he is doing. It doesn't matter a dickie-bird. But the player is adamant he wants to leave. But I can do no more than I'm doing at the moment ... but we are leaving the door open
We have done nothing but help him since he came to this club, that is why this is such a mystery to us. We've helped him with his private life and other matters ... so we're as bemused as anyone can be because we can't understand why he would want to leave a club that is successful as we are in British football."
This shocked me, as I'm sure it is shocking you now, as United fans will have to come to terms with being without Wayne Rooney for next season. So many questions will be asked from now until January, or the summer transfer window, when Rooney is most likely to leave. Where will he go? How much will he cost? Why is he going? But most importantly for Manchester United; Who will replace him?
When Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United in 2007 for a World Record fee, it was questioned if Manchester United would be able to cope without him. Up stepped Rooney, to fill the goalscoring void, and he was on fire - scoring goals and being at the centre of attention for all the right reasons. Times have changed, and with his questionable private life no longer private, and no goal from open play since March for Manchester United, he obviously feels it is his time to move on.
Will the young Javier Hernandez, Federicho Macheda and Mame Biram Diouf step up into the spot light? Will they be able to fill the massive hole to be left by the "adamant" Rooney? Or will Ferguson rip open his cheque book, and buy a top quality striker who will score goals, just like Ronaldo and Rooney did?
