Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed Wayne Rooney wants to quit Manchester United.
The Old Trafford boss admitted he was "shocked" and "disappointed" to hear the news but said he had not fallen out with the 24-year-old England striker.
"We are as bemused as anyone can be, we can't quite understand why he would want to leave," said the Scot.
Ferguson said the "door is still open" for Rooney, who will miss Wednesday's Champions League game with Bursaspor after being carried off in training.
The forward suffered minor ankle damage at the end of the session and will sit out the European tie at Old Trafford.
Rooney's future has been the subject of intense speculation over the last few days following reports that he was not prepared to sign a new contract.
His current deal is due to finish at the end of the 2011/12 campaign.
In an interview with MUTV filmed before he spoke to the media, Ferguson said United chief executive David Gill had told him about Rooney's decision not to sign a new contract back in the summer.
"I was in the office on 14 August and David phoned me to say he [Rooney] wasn't signing a contract," confirmed Ferguson.
"I was dumbfounded. Only months before he was saying he was at the greatest club in the world."
Having learned of Rooney's desire to go, Ferguson requested to speak to the player.
"Dealing with the next step was always going to be decisive for us, how we dealt with the situation," he said.
Rooney laughs and jokes in training
"I asked to have a meeting with the boy and he reiterated what his agent said, that he wanted to go.
"The one thing I said to him was 'respect this club, I don't want any nonsense from you'.
"I don't know if he has done that. I have doubts on that, we are reading all these things about falling out with me and all that nonsense.
"It's disappointing because we have done everything we possibly can to help Wayne Rooney ever since he came to the club.
"We have always been here as a harbour for him any time he has been in trouble, the advice we have given him. I was even prepared to give him financial advice.
"But it's not just Wayne Rooney, we have done that for all the players. Wayne has been the beneficiary of that, just as Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes have... so there has been no falling out.
"So there we are, we have got into a situation where we had to clarify this for our fans because what we saw on Saturday was unacceptable.
I feel that we still have to keep the door open for him, especially as he's such a good player
Sir Alex Ferguson
"When we got to 2-2 [against West Brom] and they were chanting Wayne Rooney, it's a pressure on the players and didn't do the team any good so we had to clarify the situation and put it right."
Rooney's decision has clearly had a big impact on Ferguson, who signed the player from Everton in August 2004. United paid the Toffees £25.6m for the 18-year-old, a world record fee for a player aged under 20.
"We've done nothing but help him since he's been at this club," said Ferguson, who has not given up hope of Rooney remaining at Old Trafford.
"I feel that we still have to keep the door open for him, especially as he's such a good player," stated Ferguson.
Rooney has been a key figure for United, helping them to win the Premier League in 2007, 2008 and 2009 as well as the coveted Champions League in 2008.
Really does want to leave by the sounds of this...
Perfect Jack Second Divorce
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I'm going to be perfectly honest now, I want Rooney to stay but if he wants to leave then he can leave. I don't want no one at United who doesn't want to be there. I just hope this doesn't affect the team more than it already has.
only debate I think is where does he go? i can see a swap deal if anything. and tbh I think the future of football is in swap deals at this rate, players get bored of their big clubs, but why use money, just swap your disgruntled big players.
soon I think the best players in the world will do tours of all the big european clubs.
ronaldo swap deal? thats what I can imagine, crazy world.
Perfect Jack Second Divorce
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Maybe. Chelsea will dominate for a few years and then we might see a resurgence in United again.
Rumours for a swap deal for Benzema, but Madrid say they don't want Rooney and I don't want Benzema. Rather stick to playing Berba and Chicarito. Use the money for someone else or swap him for someone else if that's the case.
bazz23-v2 ®™ Second Divorce
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Fergie has made it public because 1) the way Rooney has behaved in lying about the injury(it DID happen in the Rangers game and Rooney DID confirm it in the interview afterwards) and 2) to start a bidding war.
I really don't think Fergie would of gone so public if he wasn't sure Rooney was leaving, its Fergie's last roll of the dice IMO.
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I would think the buy out clause would be significantly high enough, for if that were the case we would still get a nice chunk of coin.
I read it was 5mill though.......... no fucking chance is it that low.
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If Rooney leaves I think Madrid. Would love Chelsea to get him but I doubt it.
still think he will stay in the end though
Sexton Hardcastle Heath Slater's Kid
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Subject: Re: Premiership Discussion Thread Wed Oct 20, 2010 2:26 am
seeing jose talk about it i would not be suprised if they approached him a while back. But city would be the real statement of intent by their owners in so many ways. I hope it does happen just for the looks on those who thought a scouser would ever be loyal's faces.
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He's just signed a new 5 year deal to stay at United.
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Subject: Rooney agrees to five year contract at united Fri Oct 22, 2010 1:09 pm
Quote :
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has agreed a new five-year contract to stay at Old Trafford until at least June 2015, the club have confirmed.
Rooney said in a statement: 'I’m signing a new deal in the absolute belief that the management, coaching staff, board and owners are totally committed to making sure United maintains its proud winning history – which is the reason I joined the Club in the first place.
'I’m sure the fans over the last week have felt let down by what they’ve read and seen. But my position was from concern over the future. The fans have been brilliant with me since I arrived and it’s up to me through my performances to win them over again.'
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: 'It’s been a difficult week, but the intensity of the coverage is what we expect at Manchester United. I said to the boy that the door is always open and I’m delighted Wayne has agreed to stay.
'Sometimes, when you’re in a club, it can be hard to realise just how big it is and it takes something like the events of the last few days to make you understand. I think Wayne now understands what a great club Manchester United is.
'I’m pleased he has accepted the challenge to guide the younger players and establish himself as one of United’s great players.'
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Firstly I have one thing to say as a Man Utd fan regarding Rooney signing a new contract... Whoop-de-doo!! I still say flog him for a shit load of money and buy a better player, but thats just me.
Sexton Hardcastle wrote:
the looks on those who thought a scouser would ever be loyal's faces.
This is a guy who cheated on his wife twice... I doubt anyone expects him to be loyal (and I agree with Frank Skinner on Have I got New for you, the check of this guy at the world cup to question our loyalty, LOL!!).
Still got to love Ian Holloways comment on the whole situation:
for some reason i thought you were going to say "if anyone can you can Mackem" 
