The manager of Manchester United announced news this week that its best player is set to quit the club. Sir Alex Ferguson said he was "shocked" and "disappointed" by Wayne Rooney's decision not to renew his contract with the team, which will expire at the end of the 2012 campaign.
Speculation is rife over Rooney's motives to quit. Foremost in everyone's mind is last month's spectacular bust up between Rooney and his manager that was played out in the press. Rooney contradicted his managers reports that he had been absent from United's Premier League match against old team Everton due to an ankle injury. This comes after a series of quarrels between the pair who are unable to see eye to eye.
But perhaps the strongest argument for his exodus is the large figures of cash being offered by competing football clubs. Since the news broke various clubs have acknowledged their interest in Rooney, who was paid a whopping 150,000 a week by Man Utd. It is thought that rival club Manchester City would be able to offer Rooney a salary in the region of 200,000.
Rooney's departure from United would mean an epic windfall for old club Everton, who are set to have the last laugh thanks to their sell-on clause, which was established when the forward was sold in 2004. They would be entitled to a quarter of any increase on the 25.6 million they sold the player to United for.
Despite his past victories, for instance scoring 34 goals in last year's season, Rooney has recently fallen off the ball. His precarious social life and recent (real) ankle injury have spelt disaster to the players' performance this season. Perhaps he wishes to leave before further mishaps as he is reportedly not happy with the direction Manchester United are going in.
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