Wayne Rooney is heading for the Manchester United exit door following a breakdown in his relationship with manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The England striker, 24, has reportedly refused to sign a new contract with Manchester United and is rumoured to have handed in a written transfer.
Rooney has had a disastrous two months following newspaper allegations he’d slept with prostitute Jenny Thompson while wife Coleen was pregnant with the couple’s son, Kai.
His form has suffered on the field with the talismanic frontman scoring just once this season for United – forcing Sir Alex Ferguson to drop him to the bench.
While Ferguson has said in the past he was resting an injured Rooney, the striker rebuked these rumours in midweek – risking the wrath of notorious disciplinarian Ferguson.
A United source yesterday told The Sun: “His relationship with Sir Alex is at breaking point.
“No one at United challenges the manager’s authority.”
The news will alert Real Madrid with the Spanish giants expressing their interest in the striker over the past two seasons. Signing for the Bernabeu outfit would give Rooney the chance to team up with Cristiano Ronaldo who he forged a brilliant performance with when the Portuguese star was at United.
The club can also expect to receive interest in their star asset from super-rich rivals Manchester City – with the Eastland’s outfit able to offer Rooney a stratospheric contract.
If Rooney, who has 18 months left on his £90,000-a-week contract, is forced out of United he will be the latest in a long line of players to feel the cold shoulder of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Past stars to leave following bust-ups include David Beckham, Jaap Stam, Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
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