Irishgunnerz wrote:

It is funny to hear Utd fans whining about loyalty etc considering the furore caused when he left Everton, his childhood club.

Not to mention the way he was celebrating and winding up his old fans when he went back up there, The guy's a tit. Full stop.

Don Pacifico wrote:

BBC's Dan Roan is suggesting it's a question of ambition and that Rooney is displeased with United's reliance on its older names, rather than following a process of regeneration.

As Ricky said, he's been top-notch for a few seasons now, the only difference last season was that more was expected of him in terms of goal return and he duly delivered.

I actually think this isn't as far fetched as it sounds. It's obvious that united are struggling financially, so I could definitely see him sulking over the lack of quality signings.

Rooney says that it was only last week that he told David Gill he wouldn't be signing a new contract.

"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."

That part makes it sound as if he knows that Fergie is off soon.

In a similar way to Arsenal, United and specifically the Glaziers, have made a massive investment into youth. Both in terms of wages and transfer fees. I think that directive came from Fergie. In my opinion influenced by the incredible spending power of Chelsea and more recently City, like Arsenal, they decided the best way to compete was to strengthen the foundations of the club from the ground up.

Like Capi, I reckon Rooney thinks the quality of the squad won't prove good enough when Fergie is not the one holding it all together, and it's as clear as day that Fergie hasn't got much more left in him.

Again in a similar way to Arsenal, now they've committed so much money to this squad, based on its potential, and not necessarily its current contributions/abilities - the money isn't there to scrap that idea and rebuild. the difference, for me, between Arsenal and Man United, is that Wenger has done a much better job of investing that money, in identifying young talents who can make it to the top - and he's done it on a much smaller budget.

If a new manager took over United tomorrow, he'd have to be superman to make them amongst the very best again, without serious investment. It's as clear as day that Rooney doesn't see that happening, and he is very, very well positioned to know. So it's promising for us. I'd say there is a definite comparison to be drawn with Thierry Henry's departure in 2007.

If you fall for Rooneys statement you're a gullible fool.

If you're talking to me, I'm not falling for anything. There's what Fergie says, there's what Rooney says, and the truth lies somewhere in the middle. My opinions are based on United and Fergie's actions over the last several years.

What is there to fall for?

Fall for the excuse that he wants out due to Uniteds lack of ambition.

You honestly think United have got as much chance as Chelsea, City, Inter, Barca, Real Madrid, and even ourselves of winning the really big trophies in the next 5 years?

Rooney thinks they haven't. Unless you seriously believe he's been tapped up by Man City. When you look at what's happened and what's been said, it makes that outcome look very unlikely. Why didn't he move in August, for example, if that was the case?

I think people just can't get their heads around the idea that United are on the decline. For the first time in years big players want to leave them. They don't have the most money, and they don't have the best players. Fergie will not be their manager in two years time either.

I've been saying United are the decline for ages, doesn't mean thats why Rooney is leaving them. His press release is just a way of letting Rooney apologists give him the benefit of the doubt.

And I've no doubt half the big clubs in Europe have tapped him up already. As soon as he turned down a contract in August you can be sure his agent was out courting other clubs. Probably even before that. They reckon Rooney could get a £5m signing on fee, his agent would make a fortune off that.

It's hard to rule out the 'lack of ambition' argument. After all, he's just watched his team's two best players depart for Citeh and Real Madrid; and then he looks down the round and sees Mancini playing football manager. Relatively speaking, United have no ambition (as we call spending these days). If I were Rooney, looking at the financial situation and the ageing squad, I'd be tempted to leave. Other than Nani, there are no younger players with great potential.

Tevez was never one of Uniteds 2 best players. He's been great since he left but he did fuck all at United.

Complete revisionism there Zico.

Rooney bottling it under the glare of the tabloids as much as anything else. He was raised Catholic, he's enjoyed immense success, he's done something "dirty" and disappointed the authority figures in his life. Now he feels like a change is as good as a holiday. That's my pop psychological take on it

I doubt the money matters very much given he will end up on astronomical cash wherever he goes. Ambition is just the standard excuse - any press statement is 99% about image management and 1% about providing the public with information.

qs! wrote:

Tevez was never one of Uniteds 2 best players. He's been great since he left but he did fuck all at United.

Complete revisionism there Zico.

:-) I thought he was good at United. He gave them that Dirk Kuyt hustle. Maybe not two best (that would be Rooney and Ronaldo), but you could argue that Tevez was one of the two best other than Rooney. Tevez has done the business at all his stops in the Premier League. Right now he's unstoppable.

i think his agent is telling him if he runs down his contract, then he can get a signing bonus almost as big as the transfer fee that united would've gotten for him. maybe he's a little concerned about having two chelseas as well, but it's not like united has been doing poorly. i think he's stressed out and wants a change of scenery with bags full of cash. is it a rational reaction? probably not, but rooney's shown that decision-making is not a strength of his (off the pitch, anyway)

Perhaps some of you UK based people can tell me, is Rooney still a popular favourite and draw card with the public, would he still sell shirts etc?
Because here in Australia this is big news.