“Rooney is not for sale” – United insist, as Chelsea try to hijack striker’s

Manchester United have stated that Wayne Rooney is not for sale, even as Chelsea threaten to hijack the England international’s £30million move to Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich.

Yesterday, there were speculations that Rooney had asked to leave, even as Sir Alex Ferguson announced his impending retirement as manager of the club. The striker has become disillusioned at Old Trafford, as he has not been able to nail a regular place in the team.

However, the club is not keen to part with the 26-year-old, who joined from Everton.

“Wayne Rooney is not for sale,” a United spokesman confirmed on Wednesday night.

It is also understood that Roman Abramovich has spoken to Rooney’s advisers and made it clear that he is ready to sanction the deal.

Rooney’s departure may be hastened by the fact that his former boss David Moyes, is almost certain to take over from Ferguson and the two have endured a patchy relationship, after the forward made some remarks about him in his autobiography.

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