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WAYNE Rooney will ask Manchester United to make clear that he did not request a transfer last season when he meets David Moyes this week, according to widespread reports. The Guardian, Daily Mirror and Daily Express all maintain that Rooney remains unhappy with Sir Alex Ferguson’s claim before the penultimate game of last season that the England international had asked to leave the club.
Mike Phelan, who had been Ferguson’s assistant prior to the Scot’s retirement, repeated the claim in an interview on BBC Radio 5 Live this week.
Referencing Rooney’s initial request to leave in 2010, Phelan said: “You can put the first transfer request down to inexperience but the second one is putting yourself right out there.”
However, Rooney disputes that version of events.
He is not believed to be seeking a move away at this point and is apparently fearful he will face a backlash from the club’s fans over the matter if he stays. Moyes, his manager at Everton, is said to be eager to retain the player.
The reports suggest the 27-year-old had become disillusioned with life under Ferguson, who last season played him in midfield, questioned his fitness and left him out of high-profile matches. The Mirror understands, however, that Rooney would be “happy to play a team role either wide in a three-man forward line or at the front of midfield if required” under Moyes.
Meanwhile, Gerard Pique has insisted selling Lionel Messi should not be an option for Barcelona as he feels the Argentine is still the best player in the world.
Barcelona icon Johan Cruyff recently stated the Catalans should consider cashing in on the prolific attacker now they have secured the services of Neymar, but Pique feels the Dutchman has got it wrong this time around.
“We always listen to what Johan has to say here at Barcelona because of everything he has done for the club as a player and a coach,” Pique told Sport.
“He often brings something positive to the club, but in this case I think it’s clear that Messi is untouchable.
“Messi is the best player in the world and he has brought so much to the club. It would be inconceivable that he would not be here.
“The team should be built around him as it’s been in recent years. We all know how important he is and it would be foolish not to use him. It would not make any sense not to use the best player in the world.”
The 26-year-old has scored over 200 Liga goals for Barcelona since making his first team debut in 2004-05.
Lionel Messi has angered backers of a charity game in Los Angeles by pulling out of the event.
The Argentine and a host of other top international stars had been scheduled to take part in a friendly at the Coliseum yesterday but the match was called off some 26 hours beforehand, much to the fury of Todd Graham, CEO of El Padrino, one of the event’s sponsors.
“After hours of trying to convince Lionel Messi’s management team to fulfill their contractual agreement and come to Los Angeles, it is clear they have no respect for these fans and this market,” he stated.-Soccernet.
Online Reporter