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."
