Fergie to drop Rooney from pre-season tour
Published 23:00 03/07/10 By Simon Mullock
Wayne Rooney has been given an extended holiday by Manchester United as Sir Alex Ferguson attempts to rebuild his star striker’s shattered confidence.
Ferguson contacted Rooney during the week to assess his physical and mental state following England’s World Cup debacle in South Africa.
The PFA and FWA Footballer of the Year assured his manager that he suffered no fitness problems during the tournament – despite claims he was being hampered by the ankle injury he suffered in March.
But Ferguson still told him that he will not be taking him on United’s pre-season tour of North America later this month.
A United insider said: “Sir Alex has spoken to Wayne to make sure he wasn’t blaming himself for what happened in South Africa.
“Wayne assured him that he was physically fit and suffered no injury problems with England.
“But it was agreed that Wayne should go away and recharge his batteries for the new season.
“Sir Alex has no doubts he’ll be better than ever next year.”
Rooney, 24, flew to the Caribbean island of Barbados with wife Coleen and baby son Kai on Thursday after speaking with Fergie.
When he returns to England, he will put the finalise the details of a new £150,000-a-week contract that will make him United’s top earner and keep him at Old Trafford for the peak years of his career.
He will not report back for pre-season training until the end of the month.
United embark on a four-game tour that sees them visit Toronto, Philadelphia, Kansas City and Houston.
