Wayne Rooney says Manchester United's failure to guarantee they would continue to attract top players in the future was the main reason he told manager Alex Ferguson he wanted to leave the club.
Wayne Rooney says Manchester United's failure to guarantee they would continue to attract top players in the future was the main reason he told manager Alex Ferguson he wanted to leave the club.
"I met (chief executive) David Gill last week and he did not give me any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad," England striker Rooney said in a statement on Wednesday. "I then told him I would not be signing a new contract.
"For me it's all about winning trophies, as the club has always done under Sir Alex. Because of that I think the questions I was asking were justified."
In a news conference on Tuesday, Ferguson announced Rooney wanted to quit United and the manager spoke of his shock and bemusement at the player's decision.
United have a gross debt of £522 million ($820.7 million) and fans are unhappy the club's American owners, the Glazer family, have failed to provide more money for transfers recently.
If there is no significant movement in the January window, calls will grow for the Glazers to go the same way as Liverpool's former owners last week.
Ferguson debt
Despite "recent difficulties" and media reports of a breakdown in Rooney's relationship with Ferguson, the 24-year-old repeatedly underlined his respect for the Scot.
"I know I will always owe Sir Alex Ferguson a huge debt. He is a great manager and mentor who has helped and supported me from the day he signed me from Everton when I was only 18," said the striker whose contract runs out in June 2012.
"For Manchester United's sake I wish he could go on forever because he's a one-off and a genius."
Rooney has scored only one goal for United this season, from the penalty spot, and his general form has been poor while allegations about his private life have filled the tabloid newspapers.
He also suffered a below-par World Cup in South Africa in June.
"I have never had anything but complete respect for MUFC," added Rooney in his statement.
"How could I not have done given its fantastic history and especially the last six years in which I have been lucky to play a part?"
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