Ferguson at a loss over Rooney saga

Published on Tuesday 19 October 2010 17:57

Shell-shocked Sir Alex Ferguson has accused Wayne Rooney of failing to respect Manchester United.

Exactly a week after Rooney blew his relationship with Ferguson wide open, the United boss has responded in the most damning manner.

Ferguson confirmed the 24-year-old had asked to leave Old Trafford but declared "the door was still open" for him to stay.

He said: "I was in the office on August 14 and (chief executive] David (Gill] phoned me. He had got a phone call from his agent saying that he (Rooney] wasn't signing a contract.

"I couldn't believe it. I just was dumbfounded. I could not understand it because only months before he was saying he was at the greatest club in the world and he wanted to stay for life. We just don't know what's changed the boy's mind.

"The next step was going to be important, decisive for us.

"I then asked to have a meeting with the boy and he reiterated what his agent had said - he wanted to go. The one thing I said was 'Just remember one thing: respect this club. I don't want any nonsense from you. Respect the club'.

"I don't know if he's done that."