Rooney open new Man Utd contract
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Wayne Rooney has opened new contract talks with Manchester United.
The 20-year-old has previously stated his intention to remain at Old Trafford but confirmation that negotiations with the Red Devils have begun will ease any tension among United's supporters about Rooney's short-term intentions.
Although the deal Rooney signed when he completed his £27million switch from Everton in 2004 is not due to expire for another four years, both club and player are eager to extend it.
It has been suggested agreement could be reached by the end of the year, with any new deal certain to catapult Rooney into United's high-earning bracket despite a series of below-par displays in recent times.
"I don't think going to the World Cup did Wayne any good considering the physical condition he was in but I am not 100% sure that it is anything to do with what we are seeing at the moment," said United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
"He got his rest afterwards like everyone else but then he just went straight back into football training without doing any endurance work, which is something we will address next summer."
Rooney is certain to face FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday. Amazingly, he has not scored in the tournament since his famous debut-day hat-trick against Fenerbahce in September 2004, a statistic which Ferguson finds difficult to comprehend.
"I am surprised he has not scored in the Champions League for two years," he said.
"We had a bad campaign last year, so you have to put that aside I suppose but nonetheless, I am surprised."
The 20-year-old has previously stated his intention to remain at Old Trafford but confirmation that negotiations with the Red Devils have begun will ease any tension among United's supporters about Rooney's short-term intentions.
Although the deal Rooney signed when he completed his £27million switch from Everton in 2004 is not due to expire for another four years, both club and player are eager to extend it.
It has been suggested agreement could be reached by the end of the year, with any new deal certain to catapult Rooney into United's high-earning bracket despite a series of below-par displays in recent times.
"I don't think going to the World Cup did Wayne any good considering the physical condition he was in but I am not 100% sure that it is anything to do with what we are seeing at the moment," said United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
"He got his rest afterwards like everyone else but then he just went straight back into football training without doing any endurance work, which is something we will address next summer."
Rooney is certain to face FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday. Amazingly, he has not scored in the tournament since his famous debut-day hat-trick against Fenerbahce in September 2004, a statistic which Ferguson finds difficult to comprehend.
"I am surprised he has not scored in the Champions League for two years," he said.
"We had a bad campaign last year, so you have to put that aside I suppose but nonetheless, I am surprised."
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