Rooney saga will end by Thursday

Sir Alex Ferguson expects Manchester United to settle the furore over the future of Wayne Rooney within the next 24 hours.

The England international released a statement earlier confirming that he wants to leave the club, citing a perceived lack of ambition within Old Trafford.
While Ferguson pointed to United's trophy haul to counter that claim, he told Sky Sports 2:
 "I've not read it all, I've seen bits on TV - we'll have a view of it tomorrow and see where we go from there.
"We'll probably put it to bed tomorrow [Thursday]. The door is open, we're that kind of club that we want to keep good players, particularly when they're as good as that."
But Rooney's comments have created a stir the United boss is anxious to sort out.
"We don't want it to become a saga. We have the team to consider," he said.
"We will put it to bed tomorrow.
"I have not read all the statement but we will consider it on Thursday.
"David Gill and I have a meeting at 10am on Thursday morning. David has spoken to the owners tonight, which is important.
"It is really important for us to put it to bed.
"I am manager of a club that is trying to win a game on Sunday against Stoke City.
"That is the most important thing. The rest is a bagatelle."
Ferguson did show signs of being rattled by four days of intense debate around Rooney's career, which first erupted on Sunday morning.
"I am not going on with this all night. Stop it now," he said.
"It is a European game. You have had plenty. I am concentrating on the game. Failing that, forget it."
Asked about the possibility of suspending Rooney, he replied: "What kind of imagination have you got?"
Nevertheless, there must be the prospect of some kind of sanction following the devastating assessment of United's future provided by their number one player, who may never pull on a red shirt again such is the furore his comments have caused.
And Ferguson is clearly not convinced Rooney is making the right decision.
"Sometimes you look in a field and see a cow," he said.
"You think it is a better cow than the one you see in your field. It never really works out that way.
"Some players like to think the world is better somewhere else. It never really works."
So many questions have been asked of United's fortunes that Ferguson himself could be forgiven for having doubts.
After watching his side triumph thanks to Nani's sixth-minute effort, Ferguson insists he has none.
"To maintain the success at any club is not a certainty," he said.
"I always believe a four-year cycle is the most you can achieve. Very few teams can go beyond that.
"Last season we almost did it. We were one point short of winning the league.
"But we realised some time ago that Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville were not going to last forever. Therefore our policy is to develop footballers in the place."
He then recounted a story from United's last period of relative decline after 2004, which involved Rooney himself, and included the departures of star names Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
"A player said to me Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo were not good enough and he wasn't prepared to wait," said Ferguson.
"That is the problem with potential. People don't identify potential. We are very good at it. I have identified it all my life. I know potential. I know where it can be developed and how to develop it. I have faith in it.
"That is what this club is about. When you see Manchester United at the moment, with 14 players under 22, you don't see the Manchester United for years ahead.
"We will invest in signature players when the time is ready. We were not ready this summer."
Apart from one exception, which is thought to be David Villa, who left Valencia for Barcelona.
"There was one player we would have liked to get, but he chose another club," said Ferguson.
"Some players don't want to leave their country.
"But Manchester United is a big attraction for any player.
"In terms of the future of Manchester United, there are a lot of things in my favour.
"If I told you how many agents phoned me in a week, saying a player would love to play for us - and I am not just talking about run-of-the-mill players - it would amaze you.
"We still have that fantastic romance, and respect from everyone.
"But we will be OK. I have every confidence. The structure of the club is good. We have the right staff, the right manager, a brilliant chief executive. There is not a thing wrong with Manchester United.
"We will carry on."
Ferguson, speaking after United's 1-0 Champions League win over Bursaspor, had words of praise for Nani after the Portugal winger superbly curled home from outside the area in only the sixth minute.
Nani endured an unconvincing start to life in the Barclays Premier League, but has come to be viewed as a key figure.
"He's got better, that's a great thing, and he's added a goal ratio to his game which is important," Ferguson said.
"He's got great feet, courage, he's quick - a lot of things are coming together for him."
Reflecting on the narrow margin of victory, the Scot continued: "We could have pushed on better but I think we did the job well in terms of the intensity of our game.
"We controlled the whole match, I think they had one shot with two minutes to go or something like that, but we could have done better in terms of last-third play.
"I didn't think they could score, our defensive concentration was very good."

 

 

espn