THIS week, Wayne Rooney hasn’t been out of the headlines, and this time it has regarded his next football career move. Rooney’s greedy demand of wanting to earn £200,000 a week came to fruition yesterday, when he signed a new five-year contract to stay at Manchester United against all the odds. Sadly, this can only been seen as a victory by blackmail over pure commonsense.
The trouble started back in August, when Rooney and his agent met chief executive David Gill to discuss terms over a new contract. Rooney’s previous deal expired in 2012 and he wanted guarantees over United’s strength in the transfer market, especially when you consider the wealth that their neighbours Manchester City have at their disposal. Gill couldn’t guarantee these promises, and he had every right to do so, as the club is over £700million in debt. Consequently, Rooney decided to play hardball and it is sad to have seen United give in to his over-the-top demands.
The feverish newspaper speculation about his future began last weekend, when Rooney was left on the bench for last Saturday’s disappointing 2-2 draw with West Brom at Old Trafford. Reports of conflict over an ankle injury were alleged by the papers, between Rooney and Sir Alex Ferguson. On Tuesday, at the standard UEFA Champions League press conference, Ferguson looked like a broken man, when he told the media of Rooney’s decision to leave the club. Rooney later stated that it was because ‘Manchester United couldn’t meet his ambitions!’ For someone who may have won three Premiership trophies and the Champions League during his six-year tenure at the Theatre of Dreams, this was a staggering remark. Even for people who don’t know football, Manchester United is the biggest brand in football. There was no doubt that this was all about money, rather than ambition to play in another country.
Despite interest from Manchester City and Real Madrid, showdown talks were held yesterday and Rooney put pen to paper on a new deal. With lucrative sponsorship deals from EA Sports and Nike, he could be earning upto £250,000 a week! That is more money than I will probably see in a lifetime and on a week, when millions have been affected by the spending cuts and when clubs like Portsmouth face going out of business, you can’t help but feel that this he has been no more than a selfish monster.
Ferguson has stood up to many players before and the likes of Jaap Stam, Ruud van Nistlerooy, Paul Ince, Roy Keane and David Beckham have all lost in battles against the governor of football. So how Rooney won in this game is staggering. Maybe Sir Alex’s age is starting to affect his wisdom and decision making, though who I am to question someone who has won everything in the game during his twenty-five years at Manchester United.
Does Rooney deserve the money? The answer is a simple no. Granted, he is a world-class player and class is permanent, but his form at the moment is diabolical. His performance at the World Cup for England was dismal, and his form for United this season has made him look like an ageing figure. Fortunately, with Dimitar Berbatov, Javier Hernandez, Michael Owen and Federico Macheda on their books, the Red Devils have plenty of striking options to step up to the plate when Rooney falters. Let’s not forget his private life has been intruded into, which is bound to affect anyone. However, that is his own fault, and he should have thought about it when he starting sleeping with Spanish girls.
I hope that Manchester United fans will take their time to forgive their No.9. Rooney’s actions this week have made him out to be a spoilt, childish brat. He has let down his army of supporters, his team-mates and the manager big time. When people like Wayne Rooney become all arrogant that £100,000 a week is not enough, then you realise how much of a financial mess the game of football is. . .
Now, can we please return to more serious issues in the news next week? Thank you very much!
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