Don't go, Rooney! Moyes to meet striker for talks as United try to resolve Fergie fall-out

By Rob Draper

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Wayne Rooney is to have urgent summit talks with new Manchester United manager David Moyes as the club attempt to resolve the impasse over the England striker's future created by his fall-out with Sir Alex Ferguson.

While Moyes is preparing for a family holiday and Rooney is on England duty this week, it is understood that both parties are keen to meet as soon as possible to settle 27-year-old Rooney's future, which increasingly looks as though it will be at United.

The club now accept that Rooney has never submitted a formal transfer request and, although Moyes will want to meet the player personally before final decisions are made, with Rooney committed to the club and Moyes an open admirer of the player, a resolution seems imminent.

Ringside: Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney was at the O2 Arena on Saturday night

Ringside: Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney was at the O2 Arena on Saturday night

Wayne Rooney
David Moyes

Handy: Wayne Rooney is set to meet with David Moyes to discuss his Manchester United future

Up for the cup: Rooney might have played his last game for the Premier League champions

Up for the cup: Rooney might have played his last game for the Premier League champions

 

Rooney's fall-out with Ferguson came at a meeting last month, which prompted the former United manager to claim that Rooney had asked to leave after nine years at Old Trafford.

But that meeting has now been described by sources as more an exchange between a frustrated player and his manager, in which Rooney expressed his exasperation at being dropped and frequently substituted.

Having received little encouragement from Ferguson, Rooney is said to have suggested that if he were not going to be played then he might as well be sold.

It is understood that while Sir Alex might have regarded such a statement as tantamount to requesting a transfer, there was no formal communication asking for a move and that it was a statement made in the heat of the moment, driven by Rooney's desire to play more.

At the time of the meeting there was also no indication that Sir Alex was about to retire and the situation for both club and player changed radically with the arrival of Moyes.

The new manager demonstrated his independence from Sir Alex last week with the departure of Ferguson's assistant, Mike Phelan, and his goalkeeping coach, Eric Steele.

Moyes's assistant at Everton, Steve Round, and his goalkeeping coach, Chris Woods, would be the most likely replacements.

United's departing chief executive David Gill also said last week that he fully expected Rooney to be playing at Old Trafford next season, indicating that the club have no problem with the player.

Get out, No 2: Mike Phelan was relieved of his role by the incoming Moyes earlier this week

Get out, No 2: Mike Phelan was relieved of his role by the incoming Moyes earlier this week

Moyes gave Rooney his Premier League debut as a 16-year-old at Everton but the pair then fell out over false claims in Rooney's autobiography that Moyes had leaked information to the media.

Rooney and the publishers of his autobiography apologised in court and paid damages thought be around £500,000, which were donated to a charity supporting former Everton players.

Since then, Moyes has spoken warmly of Rooney, claiming the player telephoned him to apologise personally and thank him for guidance given him early in his career.

 

The comments below have not been moderated.

Let him go this time. He is overpaid and over-rated.

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QUOTE:"Anybody that believes his pack of lies can do one. This crap is being fed by Rooney's agent and PR team to save face with United fans. If it was a lie he would have came out immediately to deny it. To now attempt to denigrate his former manager, a united legend is disgusting. If Fergie was still manager he would have maintained his transfer request. Moyes coming in is seen by his camp as an opportunity so to save face he is feeding the press with lies. I WANT HIM OUT". - john doe, somewhere, NaN/NaN/NaN NaN:NaN END QUOTE: Would also add, he and his advisors must be feeling pretty humiliated right now especially with no teams making a concerted effort to sign him. In fact most have out right dismissed him or shown no interest, those that have been linked Chelsea, PSG, Monaco have not actually confirmed it and tbh it seems any interest is likely to be as a last resort if they miss out on their main targets.

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Let him go as it will do nothing for team spirit. Anyway he is just an average player who plays in a very good team.

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The second request for a transfer......... No one is bigger than the club. Laters ROONEY...... You have more greed than talent!

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So Moyes has tied up rio at united, he's trying to sign fellaini and rooney, just curious as to who's paying his wages at the moment

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As a season ticket holder at old trafford.. personally I couldn't careless if rooney left. sick of players thinking they are bigger than the club. and lets face it he hasn't done much for us this season, he as put to much weight on and cannot run for long stints anymore.... just let him go

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My precious - stevec1 , Hartlepool, 26/5/2013 14:29.....yep Shrek and Gollum both live in huge houses and more than they can spend, flash cars, celebrity friends, homes in the sun.....whats your story?

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fairfan do you have a life u pathetic little man. Seriously your obsessed with united like the rest of the rats that come on here spouting drivel plastic fans lol highest average attendance over the last 40 yrs.

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Please let him go, we don't want a mercenary playing in our team. I believe I speak for all Man United fans!

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as a Man u supporter I don, think we will win anything next season. - Free Spirit, Falkirk, United Kingdom, 26/05/2013 06:25 ####### Go take your 'support' elsewhere then...Plastic - King Cantona , Republic of Mancunia, 26/5/2013 08:10 +++++++++He's no different from the majority of other Man U "supporters" ie plastic!!.........and he probably will take his support elsewhere. - mikeT, Exeter, United Kingdom, 26/5/2013 9:17 ...................if he's a lying little toad, which one can reasonably suspect, he doesn't have to take his support elsewhere..but if he's really a UTD supporter then this is only frustration and a bet your wealth against mine that he stays..by the way , I have nothing :-D

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