This situation has deteriorated faster than I imagined possible.

At this stage, if I were United I would be contemplating a deal such as Rooney = Benzema + £20 million. I think that Real Madrid can produce that. Given Rooney's form and impending UEFA rules, I am not sure that United can squeeze Ronaldo money out of other teams.

I will be really surprised if United get £30M for Rooney outright, and if this doesn't get sorted in January, and there's a massive chance it won't (Winter transfers being notoriously difficult), they will be lucky to get anywhere close to £30M in the summer.

I think you've really got to understand the importance of Rooney only having 18 months remaining on his contract, and the public knowledge that Rooney desperately wants to go, and as a result, United needing/wanting to sell.

They are in a very weak position, and if they are hell bent on not selling to City, as I suspect they are, that position becomes even weaker.

James wrote:

@ Ricky.

I think if i'd signed a contract at the world's biggest club, one that made me the worlds most expensive teenager, paid me £100,000+ a week, gave me 3 League Titles, 2 League Cups, 1 Champions League, 1 FIFA Club World Cup, made me one of the worlds best strikers, supported me during personal problems...i'd probably get my head down and work harder than ever before as soon as times turned slightly hard. I say that, but he's playing for a club that is still currently unbeaten this season.

I would at least keep my mouth shut until the end of the season, and not leak stories to the press like a coward. Everything about this is just bizarre to me, and stinks of greed. Perhaps i'm the fool that still believes there's some loyalty left in football. Hardly the finest example though, seeing as this is the same man who left his boyhood club for fierce rivals. I doubt it'd stop him again. Anyway, that's my opinion, and you're just as entitled to your own

I knew there was a reason we get on so well. This really sums up how I feel about it, I think Rooney's a disgrace, and ungrateful one at that.

How weird.

Thought this was always a reasonable possibility up until he released his own statement, when it appeared that he was buying matches to burn his bridges. Wonder how the fans/dressing room will respond. Can still see him leaving in the next couple of years after what's gone on in the past couple of years.

Also, I'd be surprised if the club have really conclusively changed his mind on whether they're demonstrating ambition or not. I can only think the dispute was over money.

I'd say that contract has some serious clauses in it. First one being the option to leave when Fergie goes. Thats my guess anyway.

And so much for Fergie getting rid of problem players. Don't know how he's managed to keep that reputation with all the concessions he's made in the last few years.

Just read his statement, what an attention seeking, money grabbing, little whore.

Or big whore.

Well, that was an extraordinary load of bollocks to get a pay rise.

If I worked with a guy who pulled a stunt anything like that I'd lose all respect for him.

Heh, what a whore.

This may be just me, but I think Rooney's topped Adebayor's beahviour in 2008 in the artless manouevreing stakes. Which is saying something!

To be fair to Rooney, nothing would have been made public if it weren't for Ferguson and then the story snowballed because he is the great english hope. We have had several players with the same little grumbles over the last few seasons and then commit to better contracts.

It's a ridiculous situation for trained professional's to find themselves in (including Rooney's PR team).

Just seen this:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9116212.stm

It's brilliant.

"No, I'm fully fit thank you"

Holloway is a great character. Hope he doesn't come out and say something stupid next and ruin it all.

Lagos wrote:

Very Bizzare, Then again maybe Fergie delliberately made it public realizing this would be the final outcome.

'Football people' are saying that it is a fact that Rooney had agreed to go to Man city but has changed his mind given the attention that has already been drawn (mob outside of his house, fan reaction, news coverage). Similar to when Gerrard was as good as signed at Chelsea.

Who are we referring to when we say 'football people'?

The little ones, Don. Like Arshavin. And Warwick Davis from that Ricky Gervais commercial.

Re: Rooney, I assume it was about money all along then. Brilliant way to alienate your team mates and make your fans hate you for a few quid more.

I heard it from an agent and it's apparently on the radio but I don't listen to the radio so can't certify that.