Manchester United
16 April 2010
 |
| Wayne Rooney |
Wayne Rooney will still be here next year, says Sir Alex Ferguson
By Dave Smith
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has responded in typical fashion to morning reports that Real Madrid are lining up a £90m bid for Wayne Rooney - not a chance.
The Sun reported this morning that Rooney would be offered £250,000 a week to join Real in the summer, but Fergie laughed off the suggestion, saying: "It's the silly season isn't it.
"It always happens at the end of the season. Wayne Rooney will still be here next year,"added Fergie who suggested that Rooney could be fit to face Manchester City on Saturday.
The England striker has been struggling with an ankle problem he aggravated in the second leg of last week's Champions League clash against Bayern Munich, but has trained this week.
"He has done some work over the last couple of days and we will see how he is for Saturday's game," said Ferguson, who also confirmed Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand have an outside chance of being involved at Eastlands.
Owen Hargreaves could make his first senior appearance in almost 20 months.
United come up against a City side bristling with confidence, having scored 14 goals in three matches, and manager Roberto Mancini has called for more of the same against United.
It seems a straight fight between City and Spurs for a coveted Champions League place and the former Inter Milan boss is up for the challenge.
"We know that it is vital we have a good goal difference because that could possibly decide who finishes in fourth place, " Mancini told www.mcfc.co.uk.
"We have been scoring a few goals in recent weeks, which is good. There is no reason we cannot continue to keep scoring if we play in the manner we have been of late, no matter the opposition.