Wayne Rooney: Sir Alex Ferguson plays down transfer talk

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Wayne Rooney and Alex Ferguson

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has played down speculation linking England striker Wayne Rooney with a move to Paris St-Germain.

Rooney, 27, was substituted in United's 2-2 draw against West Ham on Wednesday and is rumoured to be a transfer target for the French Ligue 1 leaders.external-link

"I don't think there is anything in that at all," said Ferguson.

"As far as taking him off the other night, it was simple - he wasn't playing as well as Shinji [Kagawa]."

The Scot added: "In so many games Wayne Rooney is better than most players, but on the night Shinji was playing so well."

Rooney joined Manchester United for £20m in 2004 but has found himself playing in a deeper midfield role at times this season.

He was also left out of the starting team for United's vital Champions League last-16 second leg tie against Real Madrid, which the English side lost as they were eliminated from the competition.

Ferguson, who last month "gave his word" Rooney would be staying at Old Trafford, refused to be drawn on whether he was trying to negotiate a new contract with the forward, saying: "I couldn't tell you about that."

Meanwhile, the United boss has admitted he made a mistake in his second substitution at Upton Park, when he replaced Kagawa with Javier Hernandez with 11 minutes left.

"We were chasing a goal and I decided to put Chicharito on but Shinji then made the second goal," said Ferguson.

"I'd already given the fourth official the card and Chicha was standing on the touchline but then we scored the second goal. If I'd changed my decision then we would have won it."

Manchester United are 13 points clear at the top of the table and only need a further six points to win the Premier League title for the 13th time.

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225 comments

  • Remember when English people/media compared Wayne Rooney to Pele?

    That was embarrassing, wasn't it?

  • Rooney needs to concentrate on getting half a stone off!

  • Fergie says Rooney will be at Old Trafford next season. Club offer new contract on reduced terms, something fans would never object to. PSG offer a better contract and £20m. Rooney leaves. Fergie and United get to ship out a player who has become increasingly peripheral and win the PR battle to boot. Fergie gets his own back for Rooney's threat to join City. It was always going to end this way.

  • Its obvious that Rooney is being groomed for the gap left by Scholes - with both having many characteristics that are similar - to include their striking roles as younger players.

    If Rooney doesn't like it - or play to expectations - he will be substituted and then moved on - like Bekham.

    PSG obviously want Rooney - put out a rumor to test the market - same tactics as madrid. Move on BBC.

  • If you were an alien beamed down from space and taken to watch your first football match and then told there was a player there who was once lauded as one of the top 5 players in the world, how often would you pick Rooney, honestly?
    I think he's 3 or 4 years past his best. He had the potential to a great player, but hasn't fulfilled his promise.

  • Let's face it (no pun intended) Despite all the plastic operations and hair transplants Shrek has never really been up to George Best or Eric Cantona standards.

  • As a man who is not afraid to rebuke speculation in the strongest terms, the language used in Fergie's comments are interesting. If it was absolutely nothing, I have no doubts he would've categorically stated that it was nonsense. Saying "I don't think there is anything in it...." suggests to me that it may not purely be speculation.

    When it comes to MUFC, Fergie doesnt "think" - he knows

  • Rooney IS stagnating at United without a doubt. He just looks bored. Think he needs a fresh challenge.

  • Central striking role for Man Utd over the past 2 seasons (Premier League)

    2011/12 - Wayne Rooney - 34 games, 27 goals
    2012/13 - Robin van Persie - 33 games, 21 goals

    Wayne has proved he can be more prolific in the central striking role. I have a feeling Man U might miss him IF they sell him and IF van Persie picks up his inevitable serious injury. Both are quite possible scenarios.

  • @96 I'm guessing no Utd fan has ever had anything bad to say about Tevez then or indeed Paul Ince when he signed for us. I assume you feel adequately versed in the thought processes of every single LFC fan in order to make such a sweeping generalisation.

    You are a muppet. To clarify this is not because you support MUFC but just because you happen to be a muppet!

  • He is not having a good season by the standards he originally set, the more worrying thing is he does not look fit and going missing in big games?
    He still looks like he is carrying a bit of 'timber'
    Overall he has not developed as much as was expected of him compared to many top level players
    I am sure AF marked his card at the time with all the lack of ambition quote

  • I've been a Utd supporter for a very long time and this saga has the smell of similar departures from Utd. Beckham, Van Nistlerooy, Ince to name a few all carried the same body language as Rooney does now. Ferguson's mannerisms betray his words. Rooney's gone.

  • Strange really, Frank Lampard has kept himself in superb physical condition and gets called Fat Frank, while Rooney has led a long life of pies, fags and beers and is basically a walking takeaway yet still people rate him.

    Oh well.

  • There has been a irritable/niggly element to Rooney's game at times over the whole season, I doubt its anything to do with RVP's arrival, but more to do with Wayne himself unable to decide does he want to remain upfront or now accept the inevitable and move into a midfield role. He seems undecided but of course utlimately SAF will decide, if Wayne agrees he stays, if not he goes!

  • Roo has been trying to play the scholsey role... but does not have the patience for this. Nor the skill or vision as Scholes.

    I have no doubt where ever he goes, he will be very good.... but very good at UTD is a minimal expectation...

  • # 158

    What a totally pointless and pathetic remark. Note to self: don't say anything at all, much better that way.

    # 159 yourereallyouttotryusingsomepunctuationasitmakesthings mucheasiertoread

  • No player was bigger than United, that was at least until Rooney held them to ransom and they buckled. I do hope Fergie gets shot of him though, any player that behaves in such a mercenary way should be sent packing. I still laugh at the World cup 2010, when the three greatest players were said to be Ronaldo (agreed), Messi (agreed) and.....Rooney?!?!? LMAO.

  • @134.badfella0807
    Rooney wanted to leave utd in 2010
    ------------
    A tabloid also claimed that "Margaret Thatcher's Head To Be Recycled" did you believe that as well?
    Last year he scored 34 goals in 44 games, you don’t get that bad in 1 year.

    #plasticfans

  • Wayne Rooney – Issues with weight, .fitness, motivation and form.
    However, he claims at 27 he still wants to be a Utd player.

    Typical Utd fans reaction.......Get rid of him and buy new players!

    Obviously no duty of care or loyalty to a player who has given 9 years service then???

  • SAF has obviously tried playing Rooney in a slightly deeper position, almost Scholesesque, but the problem with Rooney is he doesn't have the discipline to hold position and follow instruction, nor does he have that all essential quality first touch when playing in such a role.
    I'll be honest, his first touch is very poor.

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