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Rooney wants to leave - Fergie

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Wayne Rooney has informed him that he wants to leave Manchester United.

Rooney's future at Old Trafford has been in doubt amid reports he is at odds with Ferguson over his failure to play in recent weeks.

The Red Devils boss has insisted there has been no falling out with the England international, but the forward has made it clear he wants to move on.

"We don't understand it, but Wayne's adamant he wants to leave," Ferguson said at his press conference ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Bursaspor. "I'm terribly disappointed by the news because we can't understand it."

Rooney has 18 months to run on his present commitment and although it seems likely he will be sold, Ferguson has confirmed the door will remain ajar.

"I feel we have to keep the door open, simply because he's such a good player, and we've done nothing but help him in his private life," Ferguson said.

Reflecting on the chain of events, Ferguson said: "David [Gill] in the early part of the summer had opened talks with his agent and that was to be completed - or continued - after the World Cup. I was in the office on August 14 and David phoned me to say he wasn't signing a contract. He came across to see me and said 'I can't believe this'. I could not believe it. I was dumbfounded. Only months before he was saying this was the greatest club in the world and he wanted to stay for life. We just don't know what's changed the boy's mind really."

While on England duty in midweek, Rooney stated he was not injured and had not been troubled by an ankle injury all season - contrary to claims from his manager - and that left Ferguson disappointed.

He said: "Why he came out and said that you can only guess yourself. It was disappointing. When you know a player's form is a little down...he has an injury. You do it to protect him. You don't want to humiliate him because you respect him.

"In a lot of cases over the years we have done that. When it came to the Sunderland game I felt by leaving him out to give him a complete rest to get fit I was hoping that would get his form back.

Wayne Rooney was stretchered from the field during training on Tuesday © Getty Images

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"We've had all these things about falling out with me and all this nonsense. It's disappointing. We've done everything we can to help Wayne Rooney since he's come to this club.

"I had a meeting with the boy and he reiterated what his agent had said. He wanted to go. I said to him, 'Just remember one thing: respect this club.' I don't want any nonsense from you, respect your club. What we're seeing now in the media is disappointing because we've done everything we can for Wayne Rooney, since the minute he's come to the club."

When asked if the pair had fallen out, Ferguson said: "No, not a bit of it. That's why we need to clarify the situation now for our fans. Because what we saw on Saturday was unacceptable. When we were at 2-2 and the fans were chanting for Wayne Rooney, it put pressure on the players and it didn't do any good for the team."

Rooney trained with his United team-mates on Tuesday, following a couple of days of fervent speculation about the striker's future at Old Trafford, but he will not feature against Bursaspor after, ironically, he was stretchered from the field of play after damaging his ankle.

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