The gradual breakdown of the relationship of unsettled England striker, Wayne Rooney and his club, Manchester United, has gone beyond repair after new manager, David Moyes made statements suggesting he was second-choice to Robin Van Persie.
Rooney, who has missed out on United’s pre-season tour of Australia and the Far East due to a hamstring injury is said to be angry and confused and has made the resolve to force his way out of the club.
“Overall, my thought on Wayne is that if for any reason we had an injury to Robin Van Persie we are going to need him. I want as many options as possible,” Moyes was quoted as having said over the weekend.
Rooney is said to have been further angered by comments from the club’s new chief executive, Ed Woodward, who has revealed that the club will not offer him a new contract and are prepared to let him run down his contract.
“There are no contract renewals that are being discussed. I am not sitting down with any player on any extension and there is no trigger date in the diary.
“Would we be afraid to run down a contract? Of course not,” Woodward said.
This new development is said to have intensified efforts by London clubs, Arsenal and Chelsea, who have both expressed interest in securing the services of the striker, who has two years left on his contract after having spent 9 years at Old Trafford.
He is yet to submit a written transfer request, although Moyes insists that the striker is not up for sale.
Rooney has grown increasingly frustrated at being downgraded at Old Trafford, the height of it coming when he was dropped for United’s biggest game of last season, the Champions League second round tie against Real Madrid.
However, contrary to reports that his relationship with former manager, Sir Alex Ferguson is central to his desire the club, sources have said that he is opposed to working under Moyes who was his first manager in professional football at Everton.
The two had had a bitter falling-out after Rooney moved to United in 2004.