Manchester: Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Wayne Rooney wants to leave Manchester United. Ferguson revealed the astonishing news on Tuesday afternoon as rumours continued to swirl about the England striker's future.
The manager told MUTV: "Club's CEO David Gill in the early part of the summer had opened talks with his agent and that was to be completed - or continued - after the World Cup. I was in the office on August 14 and David phoned me to say he wasn't signing a contract . He came across to see me and said 'I can't believe this'. I could not believe it. I was dumbfounded.
"Only months before he was saying this was the greatest club in the world and he wanted to stay for life. "We just don't know what's changed the boy's mind really."
After Gill had informed Ferguson of Rooney's desire to leave, the Scot met with the striker, who confirmed that was the case.
Ferguson replied: "Just remember one thing - respect this club. I don't want any nonsense.
"I don't know if he's done that. I've got doubts because we've had all these things about falling out with me and all this nonsense. It's disappointing. We've done everything we can to help Wayne Rooney since he's come to this club."
Ferguson also denied falling out with Rooney, but did claim that contrary to the player's comments, he does have an ankle injury.
The manager says he first sustained it in the Champions League draw with Rangers at Old Trafford, and is still carrying it.
It will stop him from featuring in Wednesday's Champions League game against Bursaspor.
On the subject of Rooney's proclamation that he was fit, Ferguson went on: "Why he came out and said that you can only guess yourself. It was disappointing.
"When you know a player's form is a little down...he has an injury. You do it to protect him. You don't want to humiliate him because you respect him.
"In a lot of cases over the year we have done that. When it came to the Sunderland game I felt by leaving him out to give him a complete rest to get fit I was hoping that would get his form back."
When asked whether he'd fallen out with Rooney, Ferguson replied simply: "Not a bit."
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