Rooney not United

In the 24 years Sir Alex Ferguson has been manager of Manchester United, There is not much he hasn’t felt, not much he hasn’t seen and certainly not much he hasn’t dealt with.

As he revealed for the first time however that Wayne Rooney wanted to leave the club, there was a sense of massive disappointment that has usually been reserved for some regrettable results in the past and not want away players. As Ferguson sat there perplexed as to why Rooney would want to leave especially after all the help, time and energy he and the club had given to the striker, he was at a loss to explain the player’s motives.

Ferguson has seen many a player come and go and many notable names to add to that but never has he cut such an upset and disillusioned figure. When on field lieutenant, Roy Keane breached club rules and had to be shipped out; Fergie barely batted an eye lid. And when Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his desire to become a galatico, Ferguson reluctantly accepted. But Rooney was always different. He may not have received the same level of on field praise as Ronaldo nor had the same leadership qualities as Keane but he has always been Ferguson’s Mr reliable, a talismanic figure if you must.

When Fergie had a task and needed a man for the job, Rooney would always be selfless and give his all for the team. If a player was caught out of position, lo and behold who would be there running back to cover or 9 times out of 10 successfully challenge? Wayne. He may have had his critics out there particularly after his performances in South Africa and start to the current season but there’s no denying his talent and skill.

He has always possessed that workman like fight and determination born from his upbringing on the tough streets of Liverpool mixed with a natural deft and technique. He embodies the phrase jack of all trades, master of none as there is not much he cannot do on the pitch and he is the sort of figure who, with his fire, can lift his team out of the most dormant of slumbers as he has done on many occasions for United. A quality, Ferguson can ill afford to lose at the moment.

Ferguson has very rarely admitted defeat when it comes to player power. He is a staunch believer of running the club with an iron fist where he sees fit but in an age where the agent is the strong kryptonite of a football manager and players seem to possess more power than the law of the land, he has had no choice to all but concede defeat to the demands of Rooney. He has made the unprecedented step of leaving the door open for Rooney to stay and sign a new contract, something that has never been done. Does this show signs of Ferguson abating and finally giving in to how play ball with a modern day footballer? Maybe, but it could also mean just how much he actually values Rooney and hopes his feelings can be changed.

After all, it wasn’t long ago that Rooney laughed off talk of a move, “Why would I want to move anywhere else, I’m playing for the biggest club in the world and have my family very close, I want to stay here for the rest of my career.”