When Luis Figo swapped Barcelona for Real Madrid in 2000, Los Cules‘ supporters responded with a barrage of apples, oranges and, famously, a pig’s head when the Portuguese winger later returned. High in the Camp Nou stands a banner proclaimed “We hate you so much because we loved you so much.”
Such is the nature of fandom. Welcome to the hate club, Wayne Rooney.
A hero to many in the Catalan capital, Figo represented the hope of late ’90s Barça to supersede their hated rivals. To Real, Figo was simply a pawn in Florentino Perez’ Gallacticos Mark I. Barça received a world record £38 million fee but nothing could compensate for the humiliation.
Rooney has not yet taken the fateful step of joining rivals Manchester City but after Sir Alex Ferguson’s extraordinary Old Trafford press conference today, it seems more likely than ever.
“I had a meeting with him, and he intimated to me, in his own way, that he wanted to leave,” Ferguson said in a packed Old Trafford conference suite.
“We had a discussion about the whole situation. I said ‘the only thing I want from you Wayne is to respect and honour the club’s position and its traditions and behave like a proper professional and we will try and see it through’.
“I don’t know that he has done that.”
The temptation in such a scenario is to say the player has already struck a deal with City, much as Figo did with Los Merengues a decade ago. After all, Rooney it has emerged, told United of his intention to break off contract negotiations on 14 August. Just months earlier the player had asked to stay at United for life. Money always talks.
Whatever Rooney’s eventual destination, with Real Madrid and Chelsea the only other realistic options in the world game, he can no longer stay at Old Trafford after Ferguson’s comments today.
Perhaps not even past the January transfer window, even if Rooney attempts to draw a line under the week’s events.
Today’s conference was remarkable not solely for the dramatic developments but the manner in which Rooney’s take on events – at least that of his camp’s briefings in the past 48 hours – were deconstructed by the United manager.
It was masterful stuff from Ferguson. No, Rooney and the manager haven’t fallen out. Yes, David Gill has offered the player a new deal. Yes, Rooney was injured despite conjecture to the contrary. No, the striker hasn’t respected the club’s history and traditions.
Should Rooney switch to City, whose ambitions and financial clout now far exceed that at United under the Glazer regime, the humiliation will be replete. Perhaps even more so than that caused by Figo years ago.
United supporters though are more prone to dismiss those who turn their back on the club, rather than hate. Not that the Red masses have much experience in this regard.
Certainly the venom that will head Rooney’s way should the former Evertonian join City in January is unlikely to be as anywhere near as crude as that meted out to Sol Campbell. Tottenham Hotpsur fans use of crude homophobic chanting at their former captain after the defender’s move to Arsenal in 2001, will find no repeat at Old Trafford.
Nor will any decapitated farmyard animals, fruit, eggs or other missiles, find their way onto the pitch, although a United fan was arrested with darts and golf balls bound for Carlos Tevez’ head at Eastlands last season.
United supporters though, in common with most, are fickle. Love has turned to hate in an instant.
Gary Neville once said that United is a cynical club; former players are forgotten in an instant. There is an element of truth but the greats are not forgotten. Rooney, along with Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Neville himself of the current generation, could have join that élite clique.
It’s a history that Rooney has seemingly forgotten.
“This is a club which bases all its history and its tradition on the loyalty and trust between managers and players and the club,” added Ferguson.
“That goes back to the days of Sir Matt. That’s what it’s founded on. Wayne’s been a beneficiary of this help, just as Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and all the players have been.”
Rooney had seemed to get it; United, the history, tradition and meaning of being part of the club. How wrong this assessment turned out to be. Greed, it seems, and the player’s more base instincts have eradicated any hope of Rooney joining that pantheon.
Meanwhile, Rooney may not appear for the club again unless his ‘people’ can turn the media agenda round. On current form the England international does not merit a place in the first team squad anyway.
An ironic training ground injury has put paid to any chance of Rooney appearing against Bursaspor at Old Trafford on Wednesday night in any case.
Yet, there is still pressure for United to own a marketable asset for the next three months. United can hardly command Ronaldo-esque fees if the institutional memory is of a player who, to paraphrase the great George Best, traps the ball further than most players pass it.
Rooney’s personal marketability – unless he has already done the deal with City – is certainly lessened if he does not play again until January.
Is playing a palatable solution? Hardly. Realistic? Perhaps.
What is unacceptable is a media-driven war of words, with Rooney’s camp leading an attack on the club’s manager. Such a lack of dignity United supporters will never accept, although it remains likely.
Meanwhile, the marketing department has begun the transition already, removing Rooney’s image from Old Trafford’s East Stand façade.
The show must go on. Just not with Rooney as its most prominent face.
Picture: @danroan
When Rood love goes bad
(56 posts) (15 voices)-
Editor & Moderator at http://www.unitedrant.co.ukPosted 2 years ago #
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Anonymous
Unregistered
Screw the bastard, if he wants to be a greedy mercenary and maybe join a small club (Man C) with no hope of success or head for Spain than fine. I have never been a big Rooney fan anyway, but I throught he wanted to stay here forever and now he reveals himself for what he truly is, a disrespectful piece of shit who disrespected Manchester United, Sir Alex and us supporters. Sell him to Real Madrid for £60m+ and buy Luis Suarez and Alexis Sanchez. I will always support Manchester United and Sir Alex.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered One more thing, it doesn’t matter how much Man C owners have as their ambitions wll never match that of Manchester Uniteds, We are everything they can only dream of and know will never be. We have lost better than Rooney (alot better), United will easily survive without this Liverpoolian backstabbing scumbag of a mercenary, he was clearly scared of our mexican superstar Chicharito and the in-form Berbatov. £60m+ and good riddance fat pig, we should buy Suarez and Sanchez in January.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered Ed, life goes on, MANUTD can do without Rooney, without any f***ING merchenary. Unfortunately, all loyalty pledges was for the cash, all the badge kissing its a big acting for the “naive” funs. I’m very sad, because i could not see this coming. Even CR7 was had more class. F**OFF Rooney
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered Nice summary. Never a dull moment to be a United fan…
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered From a Liverpool fans perspective I’m very surprised Michael Owen hasn’t had a strong word in Rooneys ear about the grass been greener and all that. Had yourselves not rescued Owens career he could well be plying his trade with the likes of Bolton Wanderers by now.
It would be a huge blow to the Premier League were he to go abroad.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered If you’re not such a big fan why do you seem so upset.???
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered
Can it be that it is not money on Rooney’s mind?
Can it be that he is a human being and a man?
That personal problems lie behind his decision just to change his life – in the dramatic way?Like Zidane’s headbutt?
If so, he won’t be going to Shity and he won’t stay in Manchester.
Italy? Benitez?
Ed, that’s a brilliant article.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered It’s COMplete. Not REplete. The humiliation will be COMPLETE.
Yours,
P. Dant
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered I am doing my best not to be bitter but it seems obvious he has been tapped up. Not as if we haven’t been guilty of that ourselves in the past. Saddest part is that it is evidence that we really are losing our status as THE big club in English football.
By the way, I though Sir Alex was at his brilliant best today. Full of dignity and didn’t stoop to low end tactics. Class is permanent and Wayne appears to have very little.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered The reason the posters came off the front of East Stand, is due to the Champioen league game tomorrow night.
No Nike, Utd sponsors etc are allowed to be up in the ground or outside.
These posters always come off.PS- Rooney is still a Utd player.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered Take my word for it, Rooney is on his way to Liverpool. I know because I heard Roy Hodgson saying “Looks like Waynes’ coming”. I didn’t hear any more because it started pissing down and I had to run for cover. Ha Ha ha love it Wazza
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered Seems like he has had a deal done a while with City,must admit i find it hard to believe,we’re going to miss him no doubt but cant see a way back for him now. Have to tell me 3 year old that its his Man Utd shirt now and not his Rooney one,a sad day.
Might explain why Tevez is so “disillusioned” with football at the moment,won’t be the top dog for much longer..
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered It is about the MONEY with Rooney, he is at the worlds biggest football club and was offered a nice new deal worth apparently around £130-150k per wk which is up from his current £90k awk, which is a good deal to stay here at footballs heaven, but that “man” is all about the ££££ and wants to go somewhere else for no real reason at all, sell him to Real or Barca for £60m+ and he can enjoy the €€€€ in Spain whiles we continue to roll on as normal. NOBODY IS BIGGER THAN MANCHESTER UNITED.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered Sir Alex was class as usual in the MUTV interview, I seen abit of the SSN interview of Fergie aswell and I can say without doubt that Wayne Rooney is a total disgrace to football and Sir Alex is sheer class and handled it with diginity and respect, something that pig hasnt done as he has done nothing but disrespect the club that made him a star.The sooner he is gone the better, Fergie can get someone else that is miles better (and there are alot) to replace that over-rated mercenary. Believe.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered Well, it will only be humiliating if he plays well at his next stop, like Tevez has. Nothing in the last few months to suggest that. I really can’t see him succeeding at Real.
On the other hand, he’s only freaking 24 and he’s been through a shitstorm. I wouldn’t rule out having him come to his senses and make good here with us. A few choice goals would end the boos.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Alfonso Bedoya
Moderator
After the world cup, "winking" nonsense... Ronaldo nearly bailed, but Ferguson brought him round... and he came back awesome... Ronaldo seemed to thrive on the abuse, and pressure.
Rooney on the other hand... (if this prozzy scandal, has had anything to do with his shit form), doesn't do so well. Look at his rant at the camera, after the booing of the England team.
If Rooney does leave United, which now looks certain... he'd be wise to leave England, cause I don't think he'll cope playing for another PL team... he will get slaughtered at every away game, and his temperment won't handle it.
Just imagine the pressure of joing the Bitters, on £200K+ a week... getting dogs abuse, game after game... if you're not playing well... and Rooney hasn't been playing well... and he's not going to get his game back in a United shirt... is he?
"Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don't need badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching' tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you."Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered He will play for Man City, and will not care about the abuse because its all about money. I just finished listening to a special BBC report and Rooney’s agent said he had advised Rooney that if he wants to make real big money, he best make a move now because soon the FIFA rules are going to change and players will not be getting paid all these huge salaries. Now on the BBC news they are saying this seems to be the reason why Rooney wants to leave. But Rooney is making big money at United! Must be more to it than what BBC is saying. Maybe it has something to do with what his wife is saying. Wife maybe taking him to the cleaners, so he needs more money.
Posted 2 years ago # -
TGR
Member
Unregistered User said:
He will play for Man City, and will not care about the abuse because its all about money. I just finished listening to a special BBC report and Rooney’s agent said he had advised Rooney that if he wants to make real big money, he best make a move now because soon the FIFA rules are going to change and players will not be getting paid all these huge salaries. Now on the BBC news they are saying this seems to be the reason why Rooney wants to leave. But Rooney is making big money at United! Must be more to it than what BBC is saying. Maybe it has something to do with what his wife is saying. Wife maybe taking him to the cleaners, so he needs more money.Were they direct quotes from Stretford or relayed by the BBC? Any link?
As regards the money he's making at United, yes it's unreal, but some players just can't get enough.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered This is the main BBC news station. They are running the story every 30 minutes.But listen, Ive just figured out whats really going on. These are all syndicate moves and well planned. I may be wrong but I think Rooney will be going to Real Madrid. And when Fergie retires, Mourinho is going to take over Man Utd and when Mourinho leaves Madrid, he will bring both Ronaldo and Rooney back to Old Trafford with him. This has been all played out to go this way, its all about money, making money and bringing success. Now I believe also that Fergie will buy Fernando Torres from Liverpool. By the time Fergie retires in 2012, Ronaldo and Rooney will only be 26 years old. When Mourinho comes in, United’s strikers will be Torres, Rooney, Ronaldo and Berbatov. United will already have an unbeatable team in place.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Alfonso Bedoya
Moderator Unregistered User said:
This is the main BBC news station. They are running the story every 30 minutes.But listen, Ive just figured out whats really going on. These are all syndicate moves and well planned. I may be wrong but I think Rooney will be going to Real Madrid. And when Fergie retires, Mourinho is going to take over Man Utd and when Mourinho leaves Madrid, he will bring both Ronaldo and Rooney back to Old Trafford with him. This has been all played out to go this way, its all about money, making money and bringing success. Now I believe also that Fergie will buy Fernando Torres from Liverpool. By the time Fergie retires in 2012, Ronaldo and Rooney will only be 26 years old. When Mourinho comes in, United’s strikers will be Torres, Rooney, Ronaldo and Berbatov. United will already have an unbeatable team in place.So... you reckon, "You may be wrong", do you?
Fuckin hell Mate... Come back down before you get a nose bleed.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered Hey, just thought I would put that out there.
But you know, if Mourinho was ever to become the manager,he normally takes his star players with him.
But if Rooney does leave, SAF may finally buy at least one world class player. We will see what team he puts out against Bursapor.Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered Sell the backstabber for £60m+ and bring in Luis Suarez, Alexis Sanchez, Steven Defour and maybe try for Gigi Buffon. If Rooney wants to leave for MONEY, win nothing and spend the next 10-15yrs wishing he never left Manchester United than fine, I hope he suffers. Bring in Suarez, Sanchez, Defour and Buffon, these 4 would be great here and add more quality to our great squad. I was never big on Rooney anyway and he will not be missed, we have lost far better and kept winning, trust in ManUtd and Fergie.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered Luis Suarez and Alexis Sanchez would be great buys! My midfield playmaker would be Douglas Costa. SAF has brought these names up already and he is also saying he is monitoring the siuation with Torres at Liverpool.
Would need another strong midfielder as a replacment for Hardgreaves. A similar type player as Hardgreaves.
Really don’t know how much money SAF is going to spend on players. GLAZERS need all the money they can get to pay off debts.Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered What will be the team spirit for the game against Bursapor? Maybe you will read tomorrow that SAF has gone on vacation to Bermuda to cool off a bit.
Posted 2 years ago #
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