Angry fans vent frustration with wantaway Rooney

Fans turned on Wayne Rooney last night for claiming Manchester United’s lack of ambition had forced him to quit.

Anti-Rooney chants rang out before this laboured win, urging him to leave the club immediately, and a banner proclaimed: “Who’s the whore now? Coleen forgave you, we won’t.”

Rooney earlier blamed the club’s owners for failing to attract top talent, which had led to his decision not to agree a new contract.

If his camp hoped the anti-Glazer sentiment would keep supporters on his side they were wrong. One season-ticket holder said: “As much as I detest the Glazers, to blame them over the petulance of a spoilt footballer is plain nonsense.”


Media veteran David Meek, a United expert, said: “I’ve witnessed some spectacular exits at Old Trafford, such as David Beckham’s and Jaap Stam’s, but I’ve not seen anything like this.

“I’ve not witnessed such a crude way for a player to depart from a club. It seems totally ignorant, the way he’s gone about this.”

Rooney’s statement was interpreted as a cynical damage-limitation ploy, designed to paint the Glazers – led by owner Malcolm (below) – as the villains of the piece for plunging United into crippling debt.

Many fans were angry at the timing of the statement, two hours before last night’s Champions League tie at Old Trafford, with its fallout overshadowing the game.

Nani’s seventh-minute goal was enough to give United all three points.

Ferguson said afterwards: “I haven’t read Wayne Rooney’s statement, but we’ll have a view on it tomorrow and probably put it to bed tomorrow.

“As I said, the door is open. We keep good players, particularly when they are that young. He wants assurances? Have I won 30 trophies or what?”

On being told it was his 2,000th game as a manager, Fergie joked: “Well it feels like the 10,000th after this week, I can tell you that.”