Ferguson gives his “word” that former Everton striker is going nowhere.
Sir Alex Ferguson has dismissed speculation that Wayne Rooney could be sold by Manchester United this summer.
Several newspapers reported that United were willing to listen to offers for the 27-year-old after he was dropped for United’s crunch Champions League match with Real Madrid on Tuesday.
But boss Ferguson has given his “word” that Rooney will still be at Old Trafford next season and says the England international understood his omission from the last-16 second leg with Los Blancos.
“He’ll be here next year,” Ferguson is quoted as saying by the BBC.
“You can have my word on that”.
“There is no issue between myself and Wayne Rooney. To suggest we don’t talk is nonsense,” he added.
United exited the Champions League after Real claimed a 2-1 victory in Manchester to progress 3-2 on aggregate but Nani’s controversial sending off, with United leading the match 1-0, changed the match.
Ferguson says he has no regrets about his team selection and stressed that Rooney understood his omission.
“He understood the reasons completely. Tactically we got it right. We don’t always but we did then.”
Ferguson opted to play Danny Welbeck off Robin van Persie against the La Liga Champions, with a Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverly part of a high-octane midfield.
Shinji Kagawa joined Rooney on the bench and the Scot says he expected to receive more criticism for the Japan star’s omission after he struck a hattrick in the 4-0 Premier League win over Norwich on Saturday – a game in which Rooney also scored.
“I left out Shinji Kagawa after he scored a hat-trick. I thought I would get more stick for that.”
Ferguson said that Welbeck was the best player United had for closing down Real pass-master Xabi Alonso but said Rooney would be involved in Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final with Chelsea at Old Trafford.
Rooney has scored 14 goals this season from 24 starts, and five substitute appearances.
The former Everton striker has two years remaining on his current deal at Old Trafford and has scored 195 goals in 394 appearances for United.
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