Keane: ‘Brilliant’ United would survive Roo exit
Rooney’s future remained shrouded in mystery last night despite Alex Ferguson’s claim that he wanted to “put the matter to bed”.
Instead, after a frantic day of comings and goings, United released a statement which only added to the confusion.
“We are aware that there is intense public and media interest on the club at the moment, but there are no developments of note to report today,” the statement said.
“I can confirm a number of meetings have taken place today, including with the player's representative.
“The outcome of those meetings will become clear in the near future. In the meantime, fans are asked to be patient.”
Rooney has refused to sign a new deal with United and says he wants to leave, citing a lack of ambition at Old Trafford as his reason for wanting to move on.
Keane, who earlier in the week told his former team-mate that he should “look after number one,” didn’t want to comment too specifically on Rooney’s statement but believes that United would cope with his loss.
“I think it’s important that I mind my own business on it. But what I would say is that we shouldn’t forget what a great, great club Manchester United is, ” said Keane.
“It’s an absolutely brilliant club, probably one of the best in the world, without a shadow of a doubt.
“Don’t worry about Manchester United, they’ll be fine with the supporters they’ve got there and the manager. It’s a brilliant, brilliant football club. Never forget that.
“Players have opinions and if they want to leave, then good luck to them. Manchester United will more than survive.”
The Ipswich boss dismissed Rooney’s suggestion that United are no longer able to attract the world’s best players: “Of course they are, absolutely. If any player ever asked me if they should sign for United — and one or two have — I’d tell them ‘do it, you won’t regret it’.”
Keane has very fond memories of his time at Old Trafford, during which time he won seven Premier League titles and four FA Cups.
“I was there for 12½ years and I loved every minute of every day playing for that club. I had chances to leave, many opportunities when my contract was running out, particularly when I came back from my cruciate. It’s an amazing football club.”
It was the afternoon before Ferguson and Gill had face-to-face talks yesterday at Old Trafford. Yet still there was no confirmation afterwards of what had been discussed, nor any reason offered for the delay to the timetable Ferguson had laid down.
Ferguson had launched a passionate defence of his own transfer policy, which directly answered one of Rooney’s main complaints.
And, while there have been rumours that some within the United playing squad have been left deeply unhappy at Rooney’s insinuation of them being substandard, others have openly expressed a hope the striker, who celebrates his 25th birthday this weekend, can be persuaded to stay.
Ferguson believes United, as a club, remain in good shape.
“We will be OK. I have every confidence,” he said. “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. To maintain the success at any club is not a certainty.
“I always believe a four-year cycle is the most you can achieve. Very few teams can go beyond that.
“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 their place.”
He went on to tell a story from 2004 when Rooney joined the club while previous stars such as Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy were departing.
“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.
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