Wayne Rooney declares his intention to walk out on Manchester United

[khay 10]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/oc...ited?CMP=twt_gu

 

 

Wayne Rooney has thrown Manchester United's season into a state of turmoil after informing the club he has no plans to sign another contract and intends to find new employers. Rooney's decision is based on serious differences with Sir Alex Ferguson, the Guardian understands, and will be a devastating blow to the supporters who have come to regard him as a talismanic figure in this troubled era under Malcolm Glazer's ownership.

 

United may have no option now but to sell the England striker, possibly in the January transfer window, rather than risk his transfer valuation dramatically lowering now that he is only 20 months away from becoming a free agent.

 

Rooney has always said he has no desire to play abroad and would like to remain in Manchester for the rest of his career, but his mindset has changed and his availability will inevitably attract interest from major forces such as Real Madrid and Barcelona. Manchester City may feel they have an outside chance of capitalising on what has gone wrong for him at Old Trafford, although their chances are undermined by the fact they already have a huge task ahead of them bringing down their wages to prevent Uefa banning them from European competitions under financial fair-play rules.

 

The full details are not yet clear but the underlying fact is that Rooney now feels that his working relationship with Ferguson has suffered potentially irreparable damage in the fall-out from tabloid allegations about the striker's private life, coinciding with a dramatic loss of form and a growing sense that the most successful manager in the business has taken a hard-line approach with his player.

 

Rooney has lost his place in the team, with Ferguson citing a supposed ankle injury, and the 24-year-old felt sufficiently emboldened last week to contradict his manager's version of events and make it clear he has not missed a single training session – and was, in essence, dropped for other reasons.

 

What has not been established is whether these events have coincided with a disagreement about the amount of money he expected to earn in a new contract. United had been willing to make him the highest earner at the club, with a weekly salary of £150,000, and the club's chief executive, David Gill, had stated several times earlier in the year that the matter would be resolved as soon as Rooney was back from the World Cup.

 

That now appears to have backfired on Gill, with the message already conveyed to senior figures at Old Trafford that Rooney is now counting down his days at the club. There remains a suspicion it might be a part of the negotiating process, but the Guardian has been informed that, for now at least, Rooney's mind is made up and that he and his family are already contemplating where next to take his career.

 

If that remains the case, it threatens to be an even more devastating blow to the club than Cristiano Ronaldo's £80m transfer to Real Madrid last year given that it was widely known the Portuguese would eventually move to the Bernabéu. Rooney has always given the opposite impression, immersing himself in the fabric of the club, and now appears to be on the brink of being one of the few players to leave against their wishes. Ferguson has moved on some great footballers, including Ruud van Nistelrooy and David Beckham, but always prides himself on players not being sold unless he says so; in this case it seems clear that the decision was made by Rooney first.

 

With United desperately trying to keep the matter in-house, Ferguson's views on the subject are not clear, other than he is known to be alarmed and angry about the headlines that Rooney has attracted because of his alleged relationship with a prostitute, Jennifer Thompson and mostly his faltering performances on the pitch. Some United fans will be angry that Rooney seems to have portrayed himself as the victim when it could be argued that he has brought these troubles on himself, but a rift has clearly developed between player and manager.

 

Rooney has been in the worst form of his professional life for the last seven months, without a goal in open play since the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich in March. Most worryingly, he is showing few signs of emerging from his current slump. Nonetheless, he remains a hero to the United support and was regarded as the player who would help to ensure continuity and success once Ferguson, plus the likes of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, had retired.

[themags 0]

 

£50 million cash, final offer

[The Fish 10779]

I can't find a by Rooney declaration in that piece...

[Guest Tuco Ramirez]

Unsubstantiated pish.

[TicTacWoe 0]

have a feeling there's some truth in this but can't see him being allowed to leave

[acrossthepond 874]

Made up hullabaloo now that the Liverpool saga is definitely over. The hacks need a new blow-up to write about.

[shackbleep 0]

Hmmm - I have a feeling there's some truth in this one - not unlike the Beckham situation when many was saying there's no way on earth he'd leave and he did.

 

He'll leave the country as well though - there's not a cat in hell's chance he'll end up at Eastlands.

 

How long's his contract got to run?

[Guest Tuco Ramirez]

Hmmm - I have a feeling there's some truth in this one - not unlike the Beckham situation when many was saying there's no way on earth he'd leave and he did.

 

He'll leave the country as well though - there's not a cat in hell's chance he'll end up at Eastlands.

 

How long's his contract got to run?

20 month

[shackbleep 0]

Hmmm - I have a feeling there's some truth in this one - not unlike the Beckham situation when many was saying there's no way on earth he'd leave and he did.

 

He'll leave the country as well though - there's not a cat in hell's chance he'll end up at Eastlands.

 

How long's his contract got to run?

20 month

 

He'll be gone by the summer then, perhaps even January.

 

SAF won't risk getting nothing at all for him.

[ewerk 30370]

They'll patch it up, Rooney is much more important to the team than the likes of Ince, Keane, Beckham or any of the rest that Fergie let go.

 

He could afford to sell Ronaldo because in Rooney he had another star, if Rooney goes then who else have they got?

[Guest Tuco Ramirez]

They'll patch it up, Rooney is much more important to the team than the likes of Ince, Keane, Beckham or any of the rest that Fergie let go.

 

He could afford to sell Ronaldo because in Rooney he had another star, if Rooney goes then who else have they got?

Their turnover was £283m last year, and they still made a loss. The interest payments on their loans was £80m. That £80m being washed down the drain because of the Glazer's could've been spent purely on players, it really is astonishing when you look at it, and I fully understand why Man Utd fans are so fucked off with them. They still made a loss despite the Ronaldo money, it might be a case of they have to sell Rooney. Man Utd are a massive club no one can take that away from them, but they're fucked in terms of competing with Chelsea and Man City on the transfer front as long as the Glazer's are in charge. What is happening at Man Utd, the financial situation, the global economic problems which will undoubtedly impact on revenues in the next two years, their best players are nearly at the end of their careers, problems with Rooney, inadequate younguns coming through, unable to compete with the very best in the transfer market presently, it's almost the perfect storm for Man City fans.

[shackbleep 0]

They'll patch it up, Rooney is much more important to the team than the likes of Ince, Keane, Beckham or any of the rest that Fergie let go.

 

He could afford to sell Ronaldo because in Rooney he had another star, if Rooney goes then who else have they got?

 

Something that has been evident in SAF's 20 odd year tenure at OT is that no one player is bigger than him. Rooney is no exception to that rule IMO and it's very comparable to when Ince was sold - remember all the 'you can't win anything with kids' comments?

 

Ferguson will replace with someone equal if not better.

[Christmas Tree 4711]

not as though he's playing out of his skin either. Best time to try and force something is while your at the top of your game.

 

A move to Newcastle would probably do him some good and he would be a timely replacement for Carrol.

 

Plenty to keep him busy at the bigg market as well.

[FCUM 1]

Their turnover was £283m last year, and they still made a loss. The interest payments on their loans was £80m. That £80m being washed down the drain because of the Glazer's could've been spent purely on players, it really is astonishing when you look at it, and I fully understand why Man Utd fans are so fucked off with them. They still made a loss despite the Ronaldo money, it might be a case of they have to sell Rooney. Man Utd are a massive club no one can take that away from them, but they're fucked in terms of competing with Chelsea and Man City on the transfer front as long as the Glazer's are in charge. What is happening at Man Utd, the financial situation, the global economic problems which will undoubtedly impact on revenues in the next two years, their best players are nearly at the end of their careers, problems with Rooney, inadequate younguns coming through, unable to compete with the very best in the transfer market presently, it's almost the perfect storm for Man City fans.

 

The situation ain't quite as bad as that Stevie. Much as it pains me to say it, I can see the Glazers pulling this off thanks to the £500m bond issue which was oversubscribed. They have bought themselves breathing space until 2017.

 

There is the £500m bond debt & £250m PIK debt due in 2017, which means (assuming they can maintain the PIK debt at £250m) they need to refinance in 2017 for £750m.

 

The last accounts show £163m cash on the balance sheet and a revolving £75m credit facility for player capex. Experts reckon they need £45m of that cash for operating costs so there is around £120m surplus cash mainly thanks to the Ronaldo money and a big wedge up front from the sponsors.

 

Key question is, will that cash surplus go on player acquisition or into the Glazers pockets as dividends? We probably won't know the answer to that until next summer. Glazer, Gill & Fergie all say that cash will be spent on players, they want to keep the wages steady but as high earners (VDS, Giggs, Scholes, Hargreaves, Neville) all leave the payroll then other high earners will be bought to replace them. Time will tell.

 

If the Glazers have a plan, then it's to maintain the debts until 2017 whlst growing the value of the club, refinance £750m of debt, sell for between 1.2 & 2 billion and walk away with a big wedge. The only way they will pull that off is to keep the club succesful, so maybe the cash surplus will go on players with some in dividends to service the PIK debt. It's the only option that makes any sense. If the Glazers get to 2017 and can't refinance £750m worth of debt, they and Man Utd are fucked.

[FCUM 1]

They'll patch it up, Rooney is much more important to the team than the likes of Ince, Keane, Beckham or any of the rest that Fergie let go.

 

He could afford to sell Ronaldo because in Rooney he had another star, if Rooney goes then who else have they got?

 

I'm not convinced, Fergie doesn't like his off field antics and I think he'll go. Key though is ideally Man Utd need him to sign a new contract befoe offloading him, just as they did with Ronaldo. We tend not to see real big money moves in Jan as the players won't be eligible for the champions league. If it gets to the summer with only 12 months on a contract then his price will plummet!

 

Gill & co have cocked up big time here, they never usually let star players get to even 2 years on their contract let alone 18 months!

[LeazesMag 0]

They'll patch it up, Rooney is much more important to the team than the likes of Ince, Keane, Beckham or any of the rest that Fergie let go.

 

He could afford to sell Ronaldo because in Rooney he had another star, if Rooney goes then who else have they got?

 

Something that has been evident in SAF's 20 odd year tenure at OT is that no one player is bigger than him. Rooney is no exception to that rule IMO and it's very comparable to when Ince was sold - remember all the 'you can't win anything with kids' comments?

 

Ferguson will replace with someone equal if not better.

 

SAF may call it a day too.

[manc-mag 1]

They'll patch it up, Rooney is much more important to the team than the likes of Ince, Keane, Beckham or any of the rest that Fergie let go.

 

He could afford to sell Ronaldo because in Rooney he had another star, if Rooney goes then who else have they got?

 

Something that has been evident in SAF's 20 odd year tenure at OT is that no one player is bigger than him. Rooney is no exception to that rule IMO and it's very comparable to when Ince was sold - remember all the 'you can't win anything with kids' comments?

 

Ferguson will replace with someone equal if not better.

 

SAF may call it a day too.

 

 

 

That'd be nice, like.

[LeazesMag 0]

They'll patch it up, Rooney is much more important to the team than the likes of Ince, Keane, Beckham or any of the rest that Fergie let go.

 

He could afford to sell Ronaldo because in Rooney he had another star, if Rooney goes then who else have they got?

 

Something that has been evident in SAF's 20 odd year tenure at OT is that no one player is bigger than him. Rooney is no exception to that rule IMO and it's very comparable to when Ince was sold - remember all the 'you can't win anything with kids' comments?

 

Ferguson will replace with someone equal if not better.

 

SAF may call it a day too.

 

 

 

That'd be nice, like.

 

aye, it would. I like Alex Ferguson though, he is a great manager, I was in jockland when he was at ABerdeen and said that he was the next up and coming great manager, and ManU are a great club. Its just a shame about elements of their "support". His book "My Life" is one of the best I've read.

[Monkeys Fist 42129]

Breaking news. Leazes reads a book.

Fucking intellectual pansy.

[shackbleep 0]

Press association reporting he's refusing to sign a new deal.

 

Hype's getting ridiculous like if the PA are breaking with stories like that mind you.

[Deano 0]

Probably go to Spurs or abroad.

 

Fuckin annoying though, if we had an owner with an ounce of ambition, we could of put in a cheeky bid.

[shackbleep 0]

Probably go to Spurs or abroad.

 

Fuckin annoying though, if we had an owner with an ounce of ambition, we could of put in a cheeky bid.

 

One of your psuedo accounts LM?

[Guest Tuco Ramirez]

Probably go to Spurs or abroad.

 

Fuckin annoying though, if we had an owner with an ounce of ambition, we could of put in a cheeky bid.

More chance of a roaring trade in bacon sandwiches at Mecca than someone of the stature of Wayne Rooney signing for Tottenham.

Edited October 18, 2010 by Tuco Ramirez

[Guest alex]

Probably go to Spurs or abroad.

 

Fuckin annoying though, if we had an owner with an ounce of ambition, we could of put in a cheeky bid.

[Kevin 1]

Probably go to Spurs or abroad.

 

Fuckin annoying though, if we had an owner with an ounce of ambition, we could of put in a cheeky bid.