Red alert: Manchester United ready to sell 'reject' Wayne Rooney at the end of the season

6 Mar 2013 22:31

Striker left on bench against Real Madrid is not seen as indispensable by Fergie. Plus: Reds tried to talk UEFA out of press-conference no-show rap

Sub standard: United started Tuesday's game without Rooney - will they start next SEASON without him?

Alex Livesey

Manchester United are ready to cash in on Wayne Rooney this summer.
Rooney’s omission from United’s starting line-up against Real Madrid has signalled the beginning of the end of his Old Trafford career.
Sir Alex Ferguson no longer views Rooney as indispensable and will look to offload the £35million-rated striker this summer.
United are willing to listen to offers for Rooney, with Manchester City, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain poised to lead the chase for him.
Rooney was said to be “furious” at Ferguson for leaving him out of the side that lost 2-1 to Real to exit the Champions League.
And the United manager’s ongoing concerns over Rooney’s fitness and overall condition are set to herald a parting of the ways.
Rooney has two years left on his contract at the end of the season, a point at which United would usually look to negotiate an extension.
But it is understood there is no desire to do that, with United open to securing a big fee for Rooney which can then be reinvested in the squad.
With Rooney out of contract at the end of the 2014-15 season, the Old Trafford giants are mindful of letting his current deal run down to its final year.
If they allowed that to happen, Rooney’s market value would drop considerably, with United keen to maximise any potential fee for him.
Lingering tensions between Ferguson and Rooney came to a head with the England star’s shock omission from such a crucial game.
Rooney has made 394 appearances for United and scored 195 goals since joining from Everton for £27million back in 2004.
He had his sights on breaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s 249-goal club record, but that target looks likely to elude him with his expected sale.

Should Manchester United sell Wayne Rooney?

Wayne Rooney's career highs and lows

2004

HIGH Completes move to Manchester United worth up to £27million and scores hat-trick on his debut against Fenerbahce in Champions League.

2005

LOW United finish ­trophyless for 2004/05 after losing FA Cup final to Arsenal.

2006

LOW Sent off for ­sarcastically applauding referee in ­Champions League clash with ­Villarreal.

HIGH Scores twice as United beat Wigan 4-0 in Carling Cup final – Rooney’s first senior trophy.

HIGH Named PFA Young Player of the Year for second successive year.

LOW Ruled out for six weeks with a broken fourth metatarsal in his right foot – with World Cup less than six weeks away.

HIGH Makes England return as substitute in a 2-0 warm-up win over Trinidad & Tobago.

HIGH Signs a two-year extension to existing United deal.

2007

HIGH Wins first Premier League title with United.

LOW Suffers hairline fracture of left foot in United’s opening game of season. Ruled out for two months.

2008

HIGH Wins the Champions League and Premier League titles.

2009

HIGH Wins third Premier League title but United beaten by Barcelona in Champions League final.

2010

HIGH Scores as United beat Aston Villa in League Cup final.

HIGH Named PFA Player of the Year and Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year after scoring 34 goals.

LOW Reveals plan to quit United due to the club’s lack of ambition.

HIGH Signs new five-year deal at United after U-turn.

2011

HIGH His ­over-head kick wins Manchester derby.

Winner: Rooney scores an over-head kick to win the derby

Robin Parker / FotoSports

HIGH Scores penalty v ­Blackburn to secure his fourth league title.

2013

LOW Left out of Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid at Old Trafford.

* MANCHESTER UNITED held an emergency meeting with UEFA officials in an unsuccessful bid to stop Sir Alex Ferguson being charged.
Ferguson breached UEFA rules by failing to show for his post-match press conference following United’s 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid.
United secretary John Alexander went into a midnight meeting with UEFA officials at Old Trafford in order to plead Ferguson’s case, but disciplinary proceedings were launched on Wednesday.
The United boss sent assistant Mike Phelan to carry out his media duties as Ferguson was said to be too “distraught” to do so himself.
Ferguson is facing a fine of up to £10,000 for “non-fulfilment of post-match media obligations”, in accordance with UEFA regulations.
United boss Ferguson was incensed by Nani’s controversial sending-off by Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir for a high tackle on Alvaro Arbeloa.
Cakir had shown 31 yellow and two reds in the seven matches before he waved five yellows and Nani’s red on Tuesday.
Nani’s dismissal will automatically go to a disciplinary review which will decide the length of ban the United winger will serve.
“There are no issues for us regarding the sending off,” said a UEFA spokesman.
UEFA’s disciplinary panel will judge the case on March 21 although United players who angrily confronted the Turkish referee after the match look set to escape punishment. should United sell Rooney?