United star buries the hatchet

Wayne Rooney has expressed his delight after Sir Alex Ferguson has put the record straight in his biography, backtracking on comments that had caused months of speculations as the striker seemed on the verge of leaving United for Chelsea in the summer.

Rooney was benched for Fergie’s final game at Old Trafford and the United manager revealed the striker had submitted a transfer request, while Rooney and his agent Paul Stretford firmly denied any such request, with the striker claiming he had been left “angry” and “confused” by the club’s treatment.

Since the arrival of David Moyes, however, Rooney has returned to be his club’s main man and has vindicated the former Everton manager’s decision to keep him at the club.

“Thankfully he’s come back and corrected the story that I put a transfer request in and he’s gone back and proven that I haven’t,” Rooney said after Ferguson’s autobiography was launched, in which Sir Alex wrote that Rooney “asked away” rather than referring to any formal transfer request.

“I haven’t seen him since he retired, I’m happy under the new management. I’m working to get results under David Moyes and his coaching staff so that’s the main thing for me. The other stuff doesn’t concern me,” continued Rooney.

The United striker, who turns 28 today, was again instrumental as United picked up three precious points against Real Sociedad last night, triggering Inigo Martinez’s own goal and producing the sort of runs many thought belonged to the Rooney of yesteryear as United squandered several chances.

“I’m just happy playing my football at the minute. That’s the past, I’m looking forward to the future now.

“I feel good, I feel fit, (I’m) enjoying my football so hopefully I can score more goals and keep trying to be successful,” Rooney told Sky Sports on the eve of his 28th birthday.

“(My enjoyment comes from) the new coaches that have come in and it’s really like a new lease of life… We are working to try and be successful as a team. We have a lot of players who are hungry.

“The results haven’t been what we want, and that’s what we’re working to put right.”

David Moyes was pleased with Rooney’s contribution. “He was absolutely terrific tonight,” the United manager told Sky Sports. “I was just shouting at him in the last five minutes when he gave it away a couple of times in the corner but overall he’s worked really well.”