The Fergie/Rooney Plan – A Win Win for Everybody

When I’m a little confused about something, I tend to squint my eyes a bit, look up and off into the distance, and try and work out what’s been going on.

There might be a little nod if I’m starting to work it out, or a little shake of the head if I’m a bit stuck. Does anyone else do that?

The events of the past week or so involving Wayne Rooney have been a bit bizarre, and I’ve been doing a lot of that eye squinting, looking into the distance stuff. Personally, I smell a rat.

Only days after Sir Alex Ferguson advised the world Wayne Rooney wanted to leave United because he believed the Club lacked ambition, in a way that he’s never expressed himself before (i.e., open, honest and with a hint of a quiver in his lower lip), the player signs a five year deal worth £250,000 a week making him the highest paid player in the Premier League. Does that seem odd to anyone else?

One day it becomes public knowledge that Rooney wants out, the next day Sir Alex holds a press conference with tears in his eyes explaining that Rooney believes the Club has lost its ambition, the next day Rooney and his agent meet with United’s owners, and then the next day Rooney’s the highest paid player in the Premier League and Fergie has £80million pounds at his disposal to sign some of the world’s best players.

This sequence of events seems a bit too convenient to me for Fergie and Rooney.

Is it possible that Fergie and Rooney hatched a plan to pressure the Glazers into giving both of them exactly what they want? After all, within days of that now famous press conference with Sir Alex, both Rooney and the manager have got exactly what they want, big fat pay cheques and a transfer window war chest.

Let’s face it, Fergie hasn’t exactly been setting the world on fire in the transfer market in recent seasons. Of course, it must be said, United have always tried to develop their own players as much as they can. British players such as the Nevilles, Beckham, Giggs, Scholes, O’Shea, Brown, the list goes on, have all come through the United system. They’ve always picked up top quality foreign youngsters to nurture as well such as Ronaldo, Nani, Fabio, Rafael, Macheda, Obertan…again the list goes on. But when they’ve needed to they’ve always had the power to go out and sign top class talent for top dollar. In recent times these have included Ferdinand (£30million), Berbatov (£30million), even Rooney himself (another £30million).

But when I say recent, I mean pre-Glazers. Over the past two years the list of recruits looks a little different. Michael Owen was once a great player but he’s clearly past his prime, and Antonio Valencia is a handy player but hardly world class.

This may sound far fetched, but could it be that Rooney approached Fergie a couple of months ago and admitted he felt the Club lacked ambition and was thinking of leaving? Fergie agreed and the two of them hatched a plan to put pressure on the Glazers to give them both exactly what they want? After all, who were the big winners out of all of this and what damage has really been done?

Rooney has become the highest paid player in the Premier League, has assurances from Fergie that he’ll be at the helm for at least another two seasons, and there’s £80million for the manager to spend at season’s end.

Fergie’s kept his best player, is seen as a genius in the eyes of the fans and media for persuading Rooney to stay with his press conference and behind the scenes wheeling and dealing, and he has £80million to spend.

Yes, some fans will despise Rooney for “asking” to leave United, as proven by the humorous banners displayed at United’s Champions League Game against Bursaspor mid-week. But I’m sure a lot of fans (myself included) think he (possible in partnership with Fergie) has played the owners beautifully to get them to spend big and make United the invincible force they once were sooner rather than later.

If this is the case, then I tip my hat to them both. Well played Rooney and Fergie, well played…

Cactus Chris Couch