substitutes during Manchester
United's home match against Real
Madrid in the Champions League last
March. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for
the Guardian
Jamie Jackson
Wayne Rooney will have to make a
formal transfer request if he wants
to leave Manchester United as the
club continue to insist the striker is
not for sale.
It is unclear whether the player
and David Moyes were able to sit
down on Wednesday to discuss his
future, but United are relaxed
about the issue and in no rush to
resolve it. The new manager has no
wish to sell Rooney, and the 27-
year-old has two years remaining
on his contract.
Rooney's position is that, having
aired his grievances to Moyes
around a month ago, he now wants
to hear how the Scot views his
prospective role in the side. Last
season Sir Alex Ferguson selected
Rooney out of position, dropped
him for key games, and questioned
his fitness. The forward may also
want Moyes to publicly confirm
that he did not make a formal
transfer request towards the end
of last season, as Ferguson has
claimed .
Rooney's former team-mate
Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile,
admits he misses life at Manchester
United but has ruled out an
imminent return to the club he left
for Real Madrid in 2009. Although
the Portuguese forward, who also
has two years remaining on his
contract, has been linked with a
move to United, and the English
champions would be keen to re-
sign him, Ronaldo says he is happy
in Spain.
"I miss English football," he said.
"For me it was [some] of the best
years in my career when I was
there in Manchester United.
Everyone knows that it is a club
that is still in my heart and I really,
really miss. But now my life is in
Spain. I am enjoying playing there,
too."
The 28-year-old did not, however,
rule out a move back to United.
"Part of my life is there, but in the
future we never know. I am really,
really happy in the Spanish
league."
Ronaldo has so far refused to
discuss new terms with Real but it
would require United to offer
£60m for the Spanish club to
consider selling a player who has
scored 146 goals in 135
appearances for them.
United will not find it easy to sign
Leighton Baines after an initial
£12m bid was rejected, according
to Everton's new manager, Roberto
Martínez.
"I think Leighton is more than a
player, he is an icon," Martínez
said. "He represents a lot about
our football club and I am really,
really excited about Leighton. This
is a big season for him and for us
as a club. When you are the left-
back of this football club, and the
level that he has been reaching
over the last few years consistently,
it shows me that he is the best left-
back in the country."
I can't wait to start working with
him."
He continued: "Leighton is a
phenomenal performer and has
become a very consistent player
for Everton. A lot of people get
upset when other clubs show
interest in their players but I feel it
is compliment. Leighton is vital for
our future and what we are going
to achieve at the club."
Moyes's introduction as the new
United manager will take place on
Friday.
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