Rooney Not Wanted By Real Madrid

Even if he believes that Rooney won't leave United, Mourinho pointed clearly that the English striker is not wanted in Madrid

Recent speculations see Wayne Rooney departing from Manchester, while others lay the English striker to Real Madrid, Chelsea and even Manchester City. They say the player fell out with manager Alex Ferguson who didn’t count on the striker too much lately. United’s officials confirmed that Rooney is not expected to sign an extension with the club and this due to the relationship between the two which seemed to have gone worse lately. The reasons for which Rooney isn’t wanted anymore in the first team regard his doubtful private life. Furthermore, Rooney denied manager’s assertion to which the player wasn’t used due to an ankle injury. He would challenge Ferguson’s authority after England’s game against Montenegro last Tuesday. Although a club spokesman said that the player won’t be sold during the transfer window on January, Rooney’s days in Manchester are already numbered.

Ferguson didn’t speak publicly about the situation, but his actions confirmed the relationship does not go so well. The coach left Rooney on the bench on Saturday’s game against West Brom, but introduced him just 19 minutes from final whistle. Talks over a new deal have not confirmed any agreements with the club. However, speculations went further to say that one of the main teams to buy is Real Madrid. But, on contrast, Jose Mourinho declared on Monday he does not need the English striker as Higuain, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ozil and Benzema gained their place in Real’s attack. Furthermore, Mourinho declared he doesn’t believe that Rooney will leave United in the end. “I don’t think he will leave. I think the big man Ferguson will persuade him to stay.” If the Portuguese coach refused to answer whether he would want Rooney to his team, director general Jorge Valdano didn’t. He claimed that there is no way United striker will join Real. “We have two marvellous players up frontand they proved they were able to score 60 goals between them last season. Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria will help… The question is who do we take out if Rooney comes? We have young players at the club with a lot to prove, such as Karim Benzema, and at best we are sorted out for the next 10 years,” added Valdano.

To be clearer, Valdano mentioned – as well as Mourinho did – that the Spanish club, who prepares for Tuesday’s Chamion league game against AC Milan, won’t buy or sell any player in January. Said Valdano: “In January there will be neither ins nor outs. June is a long way away.” Real does not have even time to think about Rooney’s fate in Manchester. They are focused now on tomorrow’s tough meeting against Rossoneri. This is also the most important match for Real Madrid this season. They started to run better through the Spanish league as they came after a 4-1 win against Malaga, victory that maintains Real Madrid in front of Barcelona. “We’ve already played nine games and none has been more important to me than the rest. No opponent is worthy of more respect than the rest. We prepare for each match the same way, studying our rivals with the same concentration and intensity. We want to play this game as much as we’ve wanted to play the others. This won’t be my first or second Champions League game. I’ve spent many hours in this competition. We currently have six points and we’ll need nine or ten to make it to the next round. We aren’t desperate; we are actually quite calm. Every game is demanding, but we are relaxed because we feel this is just another match. Win or lose, the day after the match will be another Wednesday,” said Mourinho, who is also looking for his third UCL trophy with the third team.

However, Real are top of the group, but with Milan behind them. The Spaniards didn’t get rid of Ibrahimovic, who for no doubt will be in the first XI. Added ‘the Special One’: “Milan are a different opponent because of their history. Between us and them there are 16 European Cup titles. You can’t forget about that. The match will feature two teams with histories different to the rest. We are currently group leaders and we have a special way to control our destiny. We will play so as to reach the next round. Ibrahimovic is a man who makes a difference and Milan have great quality players in general. I believe the match will be more difficult for us if Inzaghi plays.” He claimed in the same time that now that the team is going better and better, a win might be expected on Tuesday at Santiago Bernabeu.

Used with the ten goals Real scored in the last games, Mourinho ‘warn’ that the score might get high proportions sometimes. He insisted though to mention that one cannot expect immediate success, referring here to the only three months he got to train the team since arriving in Madrid. “We are very excited about this season and we are creating a positive atmosphere amongst Madridistas. I hope the crowd has positive vibrations at the Bernabeu on Tuesday,” he added.

It is already known that he asked former Real star Zinedine Zidane to be part of the team’s staff from now on. “I am a strong supporter for great men who are a symbol at the clubs where I work and I would like Zidane to work with us. I feel he is close to working with the first team. Zidane is part of football and Real Madrid heritage. He has to play a role in football, at Real Madrid and be happy.” On the other hand, keeper Iker Casillas, who won the World Cup trophy with Spain this year in South Africa, claimed that he only has bad memories against the Italian teams, but this won’t scare him on Tuesday. He also confirmed that this surely is the toughest match since Mourinho came in Spain. He is aware that they will face an experienced squad that won’t be pleased just with a draw. On contrast, Real Madrid is a much younger team and still under construction. Even so, big surprises are expected, too. As for the performances the two teams follow, there is to say that both sides are handling very well their national leagues games. AC Milan is top of the table in Serie A as they beat Chievo 3-1 this weekend. Robinho looks already accommodated at San Siro.

But Casillas continued: “Every Milan player is great and I always like to face the best. I’m not worried about who does or doesn’t play. I’m just concerned about us playing well and making a good impression for our home crowd. I want the fans to be happy when they go home. I think it would be an exaggeration if Milan use six forwards because the midfield would belong to us and that’s precisely where games are taken control of. I don’t think they’ll do that. We will see a very competitive game with great players on the pitch.” They will need to pay much attention to Ronaldinho, who showed great shape recently, but also to Pato, who scores almost every game in the Italian league. Madrid keeper admitted he always feared the Brazilian midfielder when this played for FC Barcelona. “Everyone feared him, including me. But he nevertheless always wants to play well against Real Madrid. Facing us always motivates players, as much as it motivates us to face Milan.”

The captain said in the same time that every match has and added complication, which is that every side wants to give its best against Madrid. He went further though to claim that he is sure that every big team plays against Real as if the game is always a final. Real Madrid didn’t lose any game yet and they are ready to continue the good performance for longer.11