Rooney to quit United

by The Rumor Monger
(Cyberspace)

Wayne Rooney has told Manchester United that he will not sign a new contract and wants to leave the club as soon as possible, preferably in the January transfer window.

It is believed that the striker has had a massive falling-out with manager Alex Ferguson.

Rooney apparently feels aggrieved over Ferguson's lack of support during the recent turmoil in his private life. When the scandal involving Rooney and a prostitute first broke, Ferguson's response was to drop him from the team citing an ankle injury.

But Rooney considered the decision a punishment rather than an effort to protect him, and publicly defied Ferguson after England's game against Montenegro last week, telling reporters 'I've had no ankle problem'.

Ferguson responded by leaving him on the bench for the 2-2 draw with West Brom.

Rooney has 18 months left on his contract and the club may have to sell to avoid the possibility of him leaving on a free.

The situation brings to mind that which led to the departure of David Beckham from United in 2003, but the club have labelled suggestions that they are ready to sell Rooney as 'nonsense'.