Our Manchester United fan site, covered the story on Saturday from James Lawton in the Independent on Saturday, that Manchester United were willing to listen to offers for Rooney. United immediately denied the story.
Well in Sunday’s Mirror, Simon Mullock is reporting that Manchester City are planning to make a blockbuster £60m offer for the United star.
City thought they had set up a deal for Rooney in October 2010, but Rooney backed out at the last minute and signed a new £250,000-a-week deal with United.
But sources inside Old Trafford tell the Mirror that the rift between Ferguson and Rooney has never been fully healed.
The United boss was furious that his personal ambition, as well as the club’s commitment to the future, was questioned by Rooney when the striker explained his reasons for wanting to quit the club.
Rooney has often cut a frustrated figure this season and his body language has not gone unnoticed in the corridors of power at Old Trafford.
A club insider said:
“Wayne has developed a habit of throwing his arms up in anger when things aren’t going well. He has been told a couple of times to cut out the histrionics.”
Mancini remains a big admirer of Rooney and is in the market for another forward with the pending departure of Carlos Tevez to AC Milan.
The City boss would need to convince his Abu Dhabi-based employers to make another move for a player who has snubbed them once before.
And City would have to find significantly more than the £50million they were ready to pay for Rooney because he still has almost four years left on the contact he signed in 2010.
The story certainly adds some extra spice to Sunday’s Manchester derby in the FA Cup. I wonder if the City fans will serenade Rooney like they did Robin Van Persie. When City played Arsenal in the league a couple of weeks ago they sang “Robin van Persie is ours”. Can’t wait to what they sing to Rooney.
