Sir Alex Ferguson last night accused Wayne Rooney of showing Manchester United a lack of respect but then vowed to do everything he can to keep him at Old Trafford.
United manager Ferguson delivered a raw and emotional summary of Rooney's decision to turn down a new contract during a remarkable press conference.
The Scot poured cold water on the theory that the striker had asked to leave after falling out with his manager over a supposed ankle injury, revealing that Old Trafford chief executive David Gill told him of a complete breakdown in contract negotiations in mid-August.
Rooney, who was carried off the training ground yesterday after sustaining an ankle injury, is still wanted by Ferguson, but the United boss made it clear that he feels the 24-year-old has let him down.
He said: 'I asked to have a meeting with the boy and he reiterated what his agent had said - that he wanted to go.
'I said to him, "Just remember one thing - respect this club. I don't want any nonsense from you, just respect the club". I don't know if he's done that.'
Ferguson declared himself 'bemused' and 'dumbfounded' by developments yesterday and suggested United had offered to make Rooney the highest paid player in the country
That is open to question, given that Yaya Toure earns in excess of £200,000 a week at Manchester City.
However, what became clear yesterday is that the striker's decision predates him suffering an ankle injury against Rangers on September 14 and - just as significantly - came well before revelations over his private life that emerged on September 5.
As revealed by Sportsmail yesterday, Rooney wants to leave because he feels
United have not behaved like a big club in terms of the contract offer made to him or their pursuit of new players.
He will miss tonight's Champions League game against Bursaspor and his latest ankle injury was understood to have been caused by a Paul Scholes tackle.
Last night Ferguson added: 'David Gill was shocked, I was shocked. David was prepared to offer the best terms offered to any player in this country.
'But there has been no falling out. There has been no argument, but we have got to a stage now where I feel that we still have to keep the door open for him because he is such a good player.'
If Rooney is sold, his former club Everton will receive 25 per cent of any fee above the £25m United paid for him.
Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid are likely to fight it out to sign the England star but Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp also expressed an interest, albeit tongue-in-cheek.
Redknapp said: 'I am going to speak to my chairman and see if we can get Rooney to Tottenham - but I doubt very much whether that will happen.
'Rooney will be a free agent, what an amazing situation to be in, somebody who's worth £50m- £60m would be a free agent. He won't find a better club than Manchester United to play for, they are a fantastic club. And he's got a great manager to work with, I don't know what's gone on but it's a shame if it ends that way.'
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Sir Alex Ferguson blasts Wayne Rooney's attitude | Mail Online
for Fergie. When he said, "The one thing I said to him was 'respect this club', I don't want any nonsense from you." That literally gave me goosebumps, yuou could see how emotional and how much he meant that line. Long live SAF and long may his reign continue.
