Manchester United’s week has been dominated by the present and future of star frontman Wayne Rooney, who shocked the footballing world by announcing his intention to leave Old Trafford, citing the club’s lack of ambition.

But after meetings between United boss Alex Ferguson, chief executive David Gill and Rooney’s representatives, the player performed an about turn which would have wrong-footed the best defenders in the world, and agreed a deal to keep him at Old Trafford until 2015.

Rooney claimed that Ferguson’s belief and support” convinced him to stay. The fact that his pay has now doubled to £180,000-per-week is thought by some commentators to also be a contributing factor.

 

The agreement came after weeks of intense speculation over, and scrutiny of, Rooney’s public and private life, neither of which has been going well for the England star this season.

In a statement declaring his intention to leave Old Trafford, Rooney attempted to quash suggestions of a breakdown in relations with Ferguson, describing him as a genius and claiming to “know I will always owe Sir Alex Ferguson a huge debt.”

But despite further claims that he had “complete respect” for United (how could I not have done?”), he added that he had spoken to Gill, who “did not give me any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad.”

Ferguson this week admitted that he knew Rooney wanted to leave back in August.

The timing of the announcement, midway between the EPL season’s two transfer windows was therefore odd – especially as Rooney would have been desperately short of match fitness if he didn’t play for United again until the opening of the January window. The new contract has solved that problem.

Speculation of the rift between player and club had heightened in recent weeks.

Claims that Rooney was suffering with an ankle injury after being substituted in last month’s 2-2 EPL draw at Bolton Wanderers were last week vehemently denied by the player, confirming the suspicions of many observers.

Reaction to Rooney’s claim that he wanted to leave the club were largely critical of him. While the large Manchester United Supporters Trust blamed club owners, the Glazer family, for United’s inability to give Rooney his “assurances,” citing the Glazers’ “lack of net investment in the squad” while they have “saddled (the club) with a huge debt.”

United have not had the best week on the pitch either. On Saturday, they threw away a two-goal lead for the second time in a month, on this occasion at Old Trafford, against sixth-placed West Bromwich Albion.

United dominated the match and led 2-0 at the break with goals from young guns Nani and Javier Hernandez.

But horrendous defending gifted Albion two goals, with their equaliser coming when veteran keeper Edwin Van der Sar dropped a simple cross at the feet of Albion’s Somen Tchoyi, who tapped in the equaliser.

United remain in control of their Champions League group after Nani’s seventh-minute goal proved enough for an understrength United to overcome an ambition-free Bursaspor on a low-key Old Trafford night.

Matters will be less low-key on Sunday when United visit Stoke.