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Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has dismissed widespread speculation that Wayne Rooney could leave the English Premier League giants at the end of the season.
Rooney was dropped to the bench for Tuesday’s Champions League match against Real Madrid, the team’s biggest game of the season, sparking stories in the British media that the England striker might be sold.
However, Ferguson said on Friday that Rooney “will be here next year. You have my word on that”.
Ferguson said there was “no issue between myself and Wayne Rooney – to suggest we don’t talk is nonsense”, and maintained his decision to leave the striker out against Madrid was tactical.
“He understood the reasons (for not being in the starting lineup) completely. Tactically, we got it right. We don’t always but we did then.
“I left out Shinji Kagawa after he scored a hat-trick. I thought I would get more stick for that.”
Ferguson said Rooney would be involved in United’s FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea.
“There are no issues with the player and he will be involved on Sunday.
Ferguson refused, however, to say whether 27-year-old Rooney would actually start against Chelsea.
“Why should I help anyone by telling them my team? We don’t do that,” he said.
“But Wayne does need a lot of football. He has always been that type. That has always been the case.”
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