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REAL MADRID are prepared to go to war with Sir Alex Ferguson over Wayne Rooney.
The Spanish club are adamant they can land the unhappy Manchester United striker. But they will wait until the end of the season to make a concrete move because Jose Mourinho has ruled out any bid in January.
Rooney has sparked a war of words with boss Fergie over his phantom ankle injury which the United manager has blamed for his key striker for missing games.
The England hitman has suggested the injury is a figment of Fergie’s imagination – which puts him on collision course with his manager.
Madrid have already made it clear that Rooney is their main £75m summer target. And they are prepared to play the long game and to lure him away – in the same way they landed Cristiano Ronaldo.
Madrid sources said last night: “There is no haste in the subject. It is something which can be completed at the end of the season. We know Rooney has not signed a new deal. Real are ready for the battle with Alex Ferguson. They know what to expect, they have been down this road before.”
United are poised to sit down with Rooney and discuss a new and improved contract.
He has almost 18 months of his current deal remaining but both parties have been unable to find the time to open talks following the furore surrounding Rooney in recent months.
But Fergie wants to see Rooney prove to him that he deserves a new deal. A source said: “It is time for Wayne to start delivering the goods on the pitch. That’s what he’s paid to do and there have been too many distractions this season.
“The manager believes he should forget about talking to those willing to listen and start scoring goals, and the West Brom game is an ideal chance to do just that.”
Real boss Mourinho admitted on Wednesday that he would like to work with Rooney in the future. He said last night: “I have confidence in my players this season and there will be no arrivals in January.
“I have been clear and the club have accepted my decisions. In June we will analyse the situation and see how we have done and then decide who we need.”
But Fergie is anxious Rooney starts doing his talking on the pitch rather than off it.
The United boss is annoyed that a player of Rooney’s stature has dared to contradict him and will not stand for it.
He has proved in the past that he will not tolerate such behaviour from any player – no matter how important they are to the team.
And he wants the 24-year-old to forget his off-field troubles and rediscover the form which saw him notch 34 goals last season.
Rooney has sparked a war of words with boss Fergie over his phantom ankle injury which the United manager has blamed for his key striker for missing games.
The England hitman has suggested the injury is a figment of Fergie’s imagination – which puts him on collision course with his manager.
Madrid have already made it clear that Rooney is their main £75m summer target. And they are prepared to play the long game and to lure him away – in the same way they landed Cristiano Ronaldo.
Madrid sources said last night: “There is no haste in the subject. It is something which can be completed at the end of the season. We know Rooney has not signed a new deal. Real are ready for the battle with Alex Ferguson. They know what to expect, they have been down this road before.”
United are poised to sit down with Rooney and discuss a new and improved contract.
He has almost 18 months of his current deal remaining but both parties have been unable to find the time to open talks following the furore surrounding Rooney in recent months.
But Fergie wants to see Rooney prove to him that he deserves a new deal. A source said: “It is time for Wayne to start delivering the goods on the pitch. That’s what he’s paid to do and there have been too many distractions this season.
“The manager believes he should forget about talking to those willing to listen and start scoring goals, and the West Brom game is an ideal chance to do just that.”
Real boss Mourinho admitted on Wednesday that he would like to work with Rooney in the future. He said last night: “I have confidence in my players this season and there will be no arrivals in January.
“I have been clear and the club have accepted my decisions. In June we will analyse the situation and see how we have done and then decide who we need.”
But Fergie is anxious Rooney starts doing his talking on the pitch rather than off it.
The United boss is annoyed that a player of Rooney’s stature has dared to contradict him and will not stand for it.
He has proved in the past that he will not tolerate such behaviour from any player – no matter how important they are to the team.
And he wants the 24-year-old to forget his off-field troubles and rediscover the form which saw him notch 34 goals last season.
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