Rogue Rooney for Russia?

Wayne Rooney, 24, is set to leave Manchester United Football Club in the January transfer window. Stating he will not be signing a new contract and claiming that his club is not good enough to win the titles he hopes to add to his haul of ten. Where is he going next? Moscow?

Wayne Rooney is only 24 years old and already has ten top titles in football. Three premiership titles (2006-7, 2007-8, 2008-9), the UEFA Champions League (2007-8), the FIFA World Club Cup (2008), 2 Carling Cups - League Cup (2005-6, 2009-10) and three FA Community Shields (English Super Cup) (2007, 2008, 2010).

Rooney, whose contract terminates at the end of the 2011-12 season, joined Manchester United from Everton FC as an 18-year-old in 2004 for a fee of 26.6 million GBP.

Here is Rooney's statement:

"I met with David Gill last week and he did not give me any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad.

I then told him that I would not be signing a new contract.

I was interested to hear what Sir Alex had to say yesterday and surprised by some of it.

It is absolutely true, as he said, that my agent and I have had a number of meetings with the club about a new contract. During those meetings in August I asked for assurances about the continued ability of the club to attract the top players in the world.

I have never had anything but complete respect for MUFC. How could I not have done, given its fantastic history and especially the last six years in which I have been lucky to play a part?

For me its all about winning trophies - as the club has always done under Sir Alex. Because of that I think the questions I was asking were justified.

Despite recent difficulties, I know I will always owe Sir Alex Ferguson a huge debt. He is a great manager and mentor who has helped and supported me from the day he signed me from Everton when I was only 18.

For Manchester United's sake I wish he could go on forever because he's a one-off and a genius."

What next?

Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson has met the Chief Executive, David Gill, in the words of the genius Scotsman, "to put the matter to bed". Before the meeting, he issued the following statement: "The door is open, we are that kind of club. We want to keep good players, particularly when they are as young as that". So, the duel is on. It is a battle between the hot-headed out-of-form striker and the hard-headed father figure who has taken Manchester United to where they are today.

Can the injury-hit Rooney secure a top-level contract? Or will Ferguson convince him to stay?

From Manchester United, the following statement after a day of meetings between David Gill, Sir Alex Ferguson and Rooney's representatives:

"We are aware that there is intense public and media interest on the club at the moment, but there are no developments of note to report today.

"I can confirm a number of meetings have taken place today, including with the player's representative. The outcome of those meetings will become clear in the near future.  In the meantime, fans are asked to be patient."

And if Rooney decides to go, could Moscow be a possibility?

Aleksei Federov

Pravda.Ru