Recent reports suggest that Wayne Rooney was left ‘angered and confused’ after Manchester United manager David Moyes appeared to hint that the England striker would have to accept a squad role behind Robin Van Persie.
Moyes had claimed to journalists during United’s pre-season tour in Bangkok that Rooney, who had to fly home after arriving due to a hamstring injury, ‘had a major role to play’ but seemed to have incensed the 27 year old by saying:
“Overall, my thought on Wayne is that if for any reason we had an injury to Robin Van Persie we are going to need him. I want as many options as possible.”
Rooney has two years left on his current United contract and was understood to have expressed his disappointment at the reported remarks to senior United figures at the club.
It’s believed that United want to wait until the end of the forthcoming campaign to discuss Rooney’s future while Arsenal and Chelsea managers Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho have both expressed their admiration for the England International and both could yet table bids this summer.
Moyes may have missed out on Thiago Alcantara but he has continued his pursuit of a midfield general by tabling a £25m bid for former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas who is currently at his boyhood team Barcelona.
Fabregas might be open to a return to England, however, but Arsenal has first refusal on 26-year old Fabregas and also a clause in his contract allowing them first refusal in the event that Fabregas was deemed surplus to requirements at the Nou Camp.
For the moment all is quiet from the Catalans and it would appear that Moyes isn’t keen on having Rooney drop into midfield as Sir Alex Ferguson had him do to mixed results in recent years.