Wayne Rooney will not travel with the Manchester United squad for Sir Alex Ferguson’s final game today – but he does so with the blessing of his retiring manager.
Rooney was given permission to miss the trip to West Bromwich as wife Coleen, expecting their second child, went into labour late last night. The couple already have a three-year-old son, Kai.
The player’s future at Old Trafford could become clearer in the coming days when it is expected he will meet new manager David Moyes to plan a way forward.
Rooney had become disillusioned after believing that he was being marginalised by Sir Alex and asked for a transfer last month, having become resigned to the thought that his prospects at United were limited.
The striker is understood to be keen to start afresh under Moyes, his former manager at Everton, and is seeking reassurance about his future.
The pair once fell out over false claims made in the player’s autobiography about Moyes leaking information to the press.
Since then, though, Moyes has spoken warmly of Rooney after he said the player phoned him to apologise personally and to thank his old boss for the guidance he gave early in his career.
Moyes is expected to meet Rooney, before taking a holiday at the end of this month, as one of the more pressing issues at the start of his Old Trafford reign. - Daily Mail