Could Ferguson ever decide to sell Wayne Rooney?

I asserted that United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had clearly purchased Robin van Persie with intention that the two would form a partnership – he said as much himself in a press conference where he claimed he wanted to duplicate the treble winning strike-force which, in his estimation, were the ‘four best strikers in Europe’.

They have been playing together – very well, I might add – with van Persie the further forward, an all round striker, with Rooney dropping deeper to play in the gap between the opposition’s defence and midfield – more of a trequartista.

In Chichartio, Ferguson has the Solskjaer-esc ‘super-sub’ he would have dreamed of and Danny Wellbeck is, well, back there in case something happens to the other three.

But could my initial baulk at the suggestion that Rooney could leave Old Trafford be perhaps premature? He is, after all, one of the best strikers on the continent and, presently, he’s not really being used in his preferred position – as a striker.

He seems to be content playing as a playmaker for his team and a provider for van Persie but will he remain content? Surely he’ll come over all nostalgic at some point and remembers the days when he was the Premier League’s top goalscorer and he was United’s talisman and he was the one who could score when he wants.

And, now I come to think of it, Rooney did almost refuse to sign a contract a couple of years ago – possibly one of the only players to have Sir Alex Ferguson over a barrel. Of course, it turned out he was only joking and he loves United and he’d never leave – he just wanted more money.

Money is something Paris Saint-Germain have in abundance and they could quite happily offer Rooney in excess of £250,000 a week if they really wanted him. And, if they really really wanted him they might just be prepared to pay the rumoured £100 million that’s been suggested.

Would Sir Alex take the money? I think, at that price, for a 27-year-old striker who’s scored 131 goals for him since his £25.6 million move from Everton in 2004, he’d probably laugh all the way to the bank.

For that sum he could buy another four Rooneys-in-the-making and plus, Robin van Persie scores when he wants and isn’t Hernandez just Solskjaer in disguise?

images: © jubei kibagami, © nasmac

Jenny Leigh

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Jennifer is a freelance writer and filmmaker from London with a great passion for football - the game, the business, and the culture. Jennifer hopes to provide readership with a high standard of news, analysis, and opinion over a range of football events, stories, and issues.