The odds of Wayne Rooney leaving Manchester United lengthened on Friday and in a flash he had committed his future to the Red Devils by signing a new five-year contract.
The 24-year-old England striker looked certain to quit Old Trafford after publicly questioning the club’s ambition, with the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona lining up to swoop.
However, a simply stunning U-turn suddenly saw Rooney sign up for a long-term future with United, claiming that all of his fears had been answered.
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He told the club’s official website: “In the last couple of days, I’ve talked to the manager and the owners and they’ve convinced me this is where I belong.
“I said on Wednesday the manager’s a genius and it’s his belief and support that have convinced me to stay.
“I’m signing a new deal in the absolute belief that the management, coaching staff, board and owners are totally committed to making sure United maintains its proud winning history.”
All is rosy in the United garden once again then, but for how long will that last? Only a couple of days earlier Ferguson had hit out at Rooney, saying: “Some players like to think the world is better somewhere else. It never really works.”
Surely the veteran Scot will be far less than pleased at Rooney’s flip-flop conduct, whose commitment to the club and the fans will have to be proved all over again.
Ferguson is growing close to the end of his amazing reign at Old Trafford and this furore will only serve to make him think that maybe retiring and putting his feet up would save him from this sort of grief.
More worrying for Rooney is the fact that he will have to win over team-mates who have been agitated by his public criticism of the club’s direction.
Left-back Patrice Evra told the media this week: “If one player in the team doesn’t trust the others he should not play in the team.”
Quite what club stalwarts Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville make off all the fuss can only be guessed at, but they are not likely to be best pleased with their beloved club’s name being dragged through the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Rooney’s task would be easier if he were on top form, but he has been a shadow of his former self since revelations about his off-field behaviour dominated the tabloids.
His only goal for United this season came from the penalty spot against West Ham in late August and that is hardly the sort of form which warrants a new five-year contract.
