MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United and Wayne Rooney emphatically denied Friday a report that claimed the club would allow its star striker to leave during the January transfer window.
“We have not seen the detail (of the report) but can assure all United fans that the Manager and the Club are committed to Wayne Rooney and Wayne is committed to the Manager and the Club … any suggestion Manchester United and Wayne Rooney are to part company is complete nonsense,” read a statement from the club.
For his part, the 26-year-old Rooney called the report published by The Independent newspaper “absolute rubbish.”
He said on Twitter he and manger Sir Alex Ferguson “have no issues and anyone who says different don’t know what they are talking about.”
The report, and quick denial, came on the heels of Rooney being fined £250,000 ($388,000) and suspended for last weekend’s shock 3-2 home defeat to Blackburn Rovers.
Rooney was disciplined along with defender Jonny Evans and midfielder Darron Gibson after being sluggish in practice following a night out.
Furthermore, his relationship with Ferguson has been far from perfect in recent times.
In October 2010 Rooney requested a transfer from Old Trafford, fueling rumors he could join local rival Manchester City.
However, the England international did a complete U-turn days later by signing a new five-year contract with United.