Manchester United latest: Including Rooney and Guardiola

In further extracts published from his upcoming autobiography by the Mirror, Rooney admits that publicly requesting a transfer two year ago was the ‘biggest mistake’ of his career'. And Rooney has told Football Focus’ Dan Walker that he realised his mistake as soon he made the announcement and that he promptly called United chief executive David Gill to reassure him over contract negotiations.

And England manager Roy Hodgson has told reporters that he has no concerns over the form or fitness over Rooney. Hodgson was questioned about Rooney’s fitness after the striker concedes in his book that he returned to pre-season training overweight but the England manager maintained such matters were for the club to deal with and underlined his support for Wayne Rooney as a ‘top striker’.

Wayne Rooney is hoping he will return to action before the end of the month after a gash he suffered in the game against Fulham. That could mean the 26-year-old returns to the first-team fold against in Newcastle in the Capital One Cup or the league match against Tottenham and upon his return, Rooney hopes he can develop an understanding with new striker Robin Van Persie.

In promotion of his new book, Wayne Rooney has given Sky Sports’ Andy Burton an interview in which he reveals that he hopes to stay at Manchester United for the rest of his career. The striker specifically identifies Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs as examples he wants to follow in staying with United and performing at the highest level into his thirties.

Sir Alex Ferguson has reportedly travelled to New York for initial ‘hand-over’ talks with Pep Guardiola. Guardiola is taking a sabbatical in New York after his time at Barcelona and El Mundo Deportivo are reporting that Guardiola will replace Ferguson at United once the Scot feels his time is up at the club.

France Football are speculating that Manchester United are monitoring Cesc Fabregas’ situation at Barcelona. Fabregas stated that he was unhappy with the number of games he was playing at the club and the unrest has alerted United and Paris Saint-Germain. United sought out Lucas Moura in need of a creative midfielder and could now turn to the former Arsenal captain in January with a £35m bid.

Juventus chief executive Giuseppe Marotta believes United overpaid for striker Robin Van Persie when paying £24m for the 29-year-old in the last year of his contract. Juve were interested in signing Van Persie but were put off by Arsenal’s unreasonable demands for the player considering he was in the last year of his contract.

Zenit St Petersburg director-general Maxim Mitrofanov claims that Nani’s ‘unreal’ wage demands were the stumbling blocks to a possible deal. Nani has yet to agree a new deal with United after requesting a £130,000 a week salary and has seen more time as a substitute so far in the season. Mitrofanov confirms that talks had taken place with the player but maintains that the club’s priorities were always new signings Hulk and Witsel.

18-year-old Manchester United defender Luke McCullough was arrested for a public order offence after being caught in sexual behaviour in a Liverpool alleyway. McCullough and an unnamed 19-year-old girl were arrested after failing to heed instructions from police offers to cease in their activity although they were release with a caution the following day.

Danny Welbeck has escaped a driving ban after being caught speeding at 82mph in a 50mph zone. The charges go back to November 2011 but 21-year-old Welbeck has been given three points on his license after refusing to pay a fine.

 

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