Wayne Rooney, who is set to make his first start after two months against Rangers tonight, denies he is planning to leave Man United
Wayne Rooney, who is set to make his first start after two months against Rangers tonight, denies he is planning to leave Man UnitedWayne Rooney insists his long-term future remains at Manchester United.
Rooney is set to make his first start for nearly two months in tonight's Champions League tie with Rangers at Ibrox.
It will also be the first time he has started since that stunning week in October which began with claims that he wanted to leave Old Trafford and ended with him signing a five-year contract.
There have been claims in the meantime that Rooney has fallen out with a number of his teammates and, after he was pictured smoking on holiday with wife Coleen in Dubai, it has been suggested the new contract is only a way for United to maximise their return on the 25-year-old should they decide to sell at the end of the season.
It is an assertion Rooney refutes entirely. "I read that I have agreed a new deal so that the club can agree a higher price with a different team somewhere down the line," the England forward said in an exclusive interview with MUTV.
"It is a load of rubbish. I signed a new deal to stay here for the long-term future with Manchester United."
Rooney received a mixed reception at Old Trafford on Saturday when he made his comeback from an ankle injury as a second-half substitute against Wigan.
Whether perceptions amongst the doubters will change if Rooney starts scoring again remains to be seen.
ReputationIt does however seem his reputation has been damaged, even if he claims it was not his fault.
"I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried about the reaction from the fans," he said. "I can understand their frustrations with the contract negotiations.
"It happened in the public eye, which made it difficult, and I did make the club aware of my concerns.
"The media also made a big thing of it (Dubai) but it's happened in the past, it was just the time it came out.
"But I always made it aware I wanted to be at this club and I am delighted my future is at United."
