Rooney’s brace and ostentatious badge kissing in yesterday’s Manchester derby may have dulled speculation about his imminent departure from United but rumors of an eventual exit will not be dispelled so easily.
Fergie cryptically compared Rooney’s treatment by the media to that endured by Gascoigne for so many years. It reflected the Scots contempt for the media’s ability to exaggerate even the minutest incidents but it was also another warning to his star player.
It was a portent that if Rooney did not curb his impulsive urges he too could spiral into a whirl of self-destruction. The example of Gascoigne was deliberately used as the poignant example of the last 20 years of an English talent siphoning away his talent by wallowing in vice. In truth it was too extreme an example, for Rooney’s misdemeanors have always stemmed from one off incidents rather than anything chronic. His love of the game and desire to win and train hard has remained relatively undimmed. He has been an outstanding performer for nearly every season he has been at United.
Perhaps Ferguson’s main point was that though Rooney may not always agree with his methods, the Scot remains the best man to cultivate and cajole the Scousers explosive gifts. On that point at least it would be difficult to disagree with Ferguson.
After all where else would could Rooney go where his manager would be always be his most fierce defender and where he would be guaranteed star billing?
All things considered a transfer way from United could at best promise an uncertain future. At United he remains the star and focal point of the team, a team with a strong English foundation and a manager who shares his single-minded ruthlessness and desire to win. Generally those who leave United in acrimonious circumstances are left to regret their decision at some point or another.
Rooney’s commitment to United was essentially unquestioned until he dropped that bombshell transfer request in 15 months ago. The bluntly worded statement was a shock to fans, observers and most of all the manager. It was then Ferguson devised his clever strategy to use the media to criticize Rooney and his agent but to also offer a route of conciliation. It was also when he uttered his memorable analogy of how the grass is not always greener in fresh pastures.
In the aftermath Rooney denied he ever considered swapping United for City or Liverpool. City were touted as the main destination for Rooney but the perils of such a move were spelt out for him and they ring true now. If Rooney did ever go City he would have be more diligent with concerns to his personal safety and live with vitriolic abuse for the rest of his playing days. Stan Collymore said such factors caused Rooney to `bottle it` when forcing a transfer. Liverpool are of course a non-starter due to the fact neither party would ever accept each other.