Wayne Rooney will be on Manchester United’s roster for their game against Aston Villa on Monday - and not on Paris Saint-Germain’s squad next season.
That’s according to his manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, who today denied reports in France that said Rooney was set to join PSG, telling reporters: “I don’t think there is anything in that at all.”
So, let’s not buy Rooney a beret and a Eurostar train ticket just yet. But don’t entirely rule out the England striker lining up alongside David Beckham at Parc des Princes next season. Ferguson added that there was no news on possible summer contract talks with Rooney, who wants a new deal but has been poor recently, is not guaranteed a starting berth and was substituted in United’s midweek 2-2 draw with West Ham. (Not that Ferguson would be likely to provide any juicy details of negotations to his, uh, friends in the English press.)
Ferguson has prior form in issuing strong rebuttals of transfer speculation shortly before selling those same players. Rooney’s had a slightly disappointing season, with 12 goals in 24 Premier League appearances. Aged 27, there must be real doubt as to whether he’s going to get any better. The former teenage prodigy is clearly one of the planet’s most talented forwards, but he’s not at the same level as Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. A couple of years ago it looked very plausible that he could elevate himself into that elite company.
Maybe a change of scenery might freshen up Rooney, and it’s certain that fueled by Qatari money, PSG can make United a generous offer and that they will be a European superpower very soon. They ran Barcelona close in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Ferguson confirmed in his press briefing that winger Ashley Young will miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury suffered late in the defeat to Manchester City on April 8.