Rooney chose not to play in final farewell
News emerged this week that Rooney had asked for a transfer two weeks ago, the second time in as many years the former Everton man made such a request.
Ferguson and United moved quickly to confirm his request had been rejected and Rooney was not for sale, which made Ferguson’s decision not to include his forward in his 18-man squad for the victory over Swansea all the more telling.
It had been widely assumed the new United manager, David Moyes, would be left to determine Rooney’s future, a particularly delicate state of affairs given the pair had previously worked together at Everton and Moyes had taken successful legal action against his former player over comments made in his autobiography.
In the wake of the 2-1 victory in Ferguson’s 1,499th game as United manager last night, the veteran manager repeated his stance that Rooney was not for sale.
But, given the obviously frosty interaction between the pair as Ferguson congratulated individual players as they accepted their Premier League winner’s medals after the game, it is clear relations between Rooney, Ferguson and the club are at an all-time low.
“I don’t think Wayne was keen to play, simply because he has asked for a transfer,” said Ferguson. “I think he wants to think it through in his mind and I think that is a good idea.
“But we are not going to let him go. I just think he is maybe a bit frustrated about being taken off once or twice in the last few weeks.
“I think he should go away and think about it again. He wasn’t happy about being brought off in games this season. Wayne Rooney in top form wouldn’t be taken off.
“We have refused it, but it’s not my decision now.”
Rooney watched the Swansea game from his own private executive box, finally joining team-mates on the field as they celebrated their title triumph. But he was jeered by large sections of the home crowd, suggesting he may have reached a point of no return with those once-adoring supporters.
Former United captain Gary Neville, however, insisted Rooney, heavily linked with a transfer to Chelsea this week, can resurrect his Old Trafford career.
“He’s 27 years of age, there is nowhere to go from here, believe me.
“I’ve seen players join Real Madrid and other great clubs in Europe and they always want to come back to this club.
“He has an agent by the way and he has got friends.
“They need to give him advice that this is the only club he should be playing at.”
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