No way out: Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid turn their backs on Rooney as escape routes close fast

Wayne Rooney could be left to stew at Manchester United after the doors to Europe’s biggest clubs began closing on him.
The striker’s Old Trafford future has been thrown into doubt following Sir Alex Ferguson’s shock decision to put him on the bench for the Champions League clash against Real Madrid.
Rooney’s advisers are confident there will be no shortage of bidders if he does leave this summer, with United understood to be ready to consider offers in the region of £20million.

 

 

Destination unknown: Manchester City and Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid have cooled in their interest in Wayne Rooney

But Manchester City, who were linked with a sensational move for Rooney in 2010, do not feel he fits their needs and remain focused on their pursuit of Napoli star Edinson Cavani and Atletico Madrid’s Radamel Falcao.
Real Madrid and Barcelona —  Rooney’s preferred destinations — are both concerned by reports of issues  with the England striker’s fitness and conditioning, something that has been  a worry at United for some time.
They were not impressed by his performance when Sir Alex Ferguson’s side drew 1-1 in the Bernabeu last month. Sources in Spain suggest that signing a player who will be 28 in November and would demand more than £200,000-a-week is considered too much of a risk.

 

Falling short: Rooney did not impress Real Madrid in the Bernabeu

Paris Saint-Germain remain a possibility but they are already paying Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic around £900,000 a week.
Even Italy’s top clubs would struggle to afford Rooney under the new financial fair play rules. Likewise Bayern Munich, who would not be prepared to meet his wage demands.
The situation is very different from October 2010, when Rooney effectively held United to ransom over a new contract.

 

On the sidelines: Rooney was left out of the starting line-up against Real Madrid, sparking uncertainty about the 28-year-old's future at Old Trafford

Back then he is believed to have spoken to England colleagues about the possibility of joining Chelsea, while his advisers contacted City to see if they would be interested in a deal.
The answer was yes but City were left feeling as though they had been used as a bargaining chip when Rooney signed an improved five-year deal at Old Trafford.
They will not offer him an easy escape route this time, with new chief executive Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain looking for a more conventional target man to replace Mario Balotelli.

 

That could yet change if City fail to land Cavani or Falcao, and manager Roberto Mancini may be tempted to exploit the rumblings around Old Trafford with some carefully chosen words at his press conference.

 

 

Twin targets: Edinson Cavani (left) and Radamel Falcao are being chased by Manchester City

Ferguson will also speak for the first time since United crashed out of Europe following referee Cuneyt Cakir’s controversial decision to send off Nani.
He is expected to try to smooth over an issue that has largely overshadowed United’s Champions League exit. It is understood he will also attempt to calm the storm currently engulfing Rooney by offering some words of support for his striker ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final at home to Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand has escaped UEFA punishment for clapping sarcastically in the face of the Turkish referee at the end of Tuesday’s game.