Sir Alex Ferguson has given his word that Wayne Rooney will be a Manchester United player next season, meaning the striker should be offered a new deal in the summer as he goes into the final two years of his contract.
Ferguson's decision to drop Rooney from the side to face Real Madrid on Tuesday in the Champions League caused uncertainty regarding his long-term future, especially as United do not allow players to enter the final 12 months of contracts as their bargaining position strengthens and their value decreases.
Ferguson said: "He will be here next year, you have my word on that. There is no issue between myself and Wayne Rooney. To suggest we don't talk is nonsense. He understood the reasons completely." Rooney will feature in Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea, the manager said.
For the last-16 second leg match, the Scot chose Danny Welbeck in Rooney's usual position behind the lone striker, Robin van Persie. Ryan Giggs was on the right, where Rooney played in the opening game at the Bernabéu. "Tactically we got it right," Ferguson said. "We don't always but we did then. There are no issues with the player and he will be involved on Sunday. I left out Shinji Kagawa after he scored a hat-trick [against Norwich last Saturday]. I thought I would get more stick for that."
Roberto Mancini came close to signing Rooney for Manchester City in October 2010 when the striker threatened to leave over United's lack of ambition. But with City having no interest in reviving the deal this summer, Mancini said: "I think that Rooney is one of the best strikers in Europe but I think it is difficult he can leave Man United.
"I don't know this situation. I can understand maybe Rooney would be upset if he didn't play but these are things that can happen in every team. After one week it is finished."
Ferguson would not reveal whether the 27-year-old will start against Chelsea at Old Trafford. "Why should I help anyone by telling them my team? We don't do that," the Scot said. "But Wayne does need a lot of football. He has always been that type. That has always been the case."
In United's 2-1 defeat to Real, which knocked them out 3-2 on aggregate, Nani was sent off in the second half before Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo scored to take their side through. Nani's dismissal by Cuneyt Cakir, the referee, for a high challenge on Alvaro Arbeloa left Ferguson "distraught", and he refused to attend the post-match press conference, for which he now faces Uefa sanctions.
"It is hard to keep your faith when you have things like that," he said. "I was concerned [about Cakir]. I said that to my staff. I had a big worry about it but it is gone now. There is nothing we can do about it.
"Nani was obviously disappointed and we have to get rid of that feeling of guilt he maybe has. I don't think he did anything wrong and that's the message we'll give to him."
Ferguson and Rafael Benítez have had differences during their careers, such as the Chelsea interim manager's infamous "facts" press conference while in charge of Liverpool in January 2009. The Spaniard claimed United received favourable decisions from referees, causing the Scot disquiet. Yet Ferguson refused to offer any negative comment on Benítez's difficult relationship with some of the Chelsea support. "I'm not going to kick anyone when they're lying down," he said. "It's not my style."
For the Chelsea game, Ferguson will again be with Phil Jones due to his ankle injury.
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