Wayne Rooney Will Stay At Manchester United - David Moyes
David Moyes faces the press at Old Trafford for the first time since his appointment |
Wayne Rooney is "not for sale" and will remain a Manchester United player, according to David Moyes. The
new United manager faced the media at his first press conference since
replacing Sir Alex Ferguson and immediately sought to put an end to
speculation linking Rooney with a summer move.
The England striker's future was thrown into doubt towards the end of
last season when Sir Alex Ferguson claimed he had requested a transfer
for the second time in three years. But United have consistently said they will not sell, and Moyes could
not have been clearer as he fielded questions on Rooney in Old
Trafford's Europa Suite.
"Wayne Rooney is not for sale. He's a Manchester United player and will remain a Manchester United player."
He said: "Wayne Rooney is not for sale. He's a Manchester United player and will remain a Manchester United player. "I've had several meetings with Wayne, he's training brilliantly
well, he's come back in good shape and I really look forward to working
with him."
Pressed on whether Rooney has made it clear he now wants to stay at Old Trafford, Moyes would not answer the question directly. Instead, he said: "We've spoken several times and I'm saying:
'whatever happened before is gone Wayne, we're working together now. "And I see a glint in his eye now. He looks happy, as if he is saying
'I'm going to knuckle down and get myself right'. I can only say I've
been impressed with how he's done."
Asked again whether Rooney had "categorically" committed himself to
staying, Moyes said: "I can tell you categorically Wayne Rooney is
training fantastically well." Rooney's unease last season reportedly stemmed from being asked to play out of position following Robin van Persie's arrival. But Moyes left no one in doubt he wants the 27-year-old - currently
fourth in United's all-time list of goalscorers - back among the goals,
challenging him to score the 53 which would see him surpass Sir Bobby
Charlton's club record of 249.
He said: "We're looking to see how we can get Wayne Rooney the goals to challenge the likes of Bobby Charlton and Denis Law. "We're looking to see how we can get Wayne Rooney the goals to challenge the likes of Bobby Charlton and Denis Law."
"Not only that, this country's got a World Cup to play in next year,
hopefully. For everybody's benefit we're trying to get him in a state
where everybody thinks 'he's much more like the Wayne Rooney we know'.
I'm looking forward to making that happen."
While Rooney had been linked with a move away from United,
speculation has suggested that Cristiano Ronaldo could be set to return
to Old Trafford from Real Madrid. Asked about Ronaldo, Moyes declined to speak directly about the Portuguese superstar. He said: "This club always interested in the best players."
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