Reality strikes as United slam the door on Rooney's £50m dream move

THE DOOR has been firmly slammed shut on Wayne Rooney's 'dream' move to Manchester United for 12 months at least - and not even the likely departures of Nicky Butt and Diego Forlan will resurrect it.

Rather than warn Alex Ferguson that sales will be required to fund a move for England's Euro 2004 striking sensation, Old Trafford chief executive David Gill views his recent comments on the teenager as putting an end to a process United had not started.

While Ferguson is understandably a huge admirer of the 18-year-old Evertonian, at no stage has he, or anyone else from the United camp, claimed a formal bid was about to be lodged.