The striker’s future at Old Trafford has been questioned since he was left out of the starting XI against Real Madrid, but the 75-year-old insists he will stay at the club

Sir Bobby Charlton insists Sir Alex Ferguson has no intention of allowing Wayne Rooney to leave Manchester United.
The England international was left out of United’s starting XI for the second leg of their Champions League tie against Real Madrid in favour of Danny Welbeck, prompting questions over whether the 27-year-old remained part of the manager’s plans at Old Trafford.

Speaking at the Laureus World Sport awards in Rio de Janeiro, Charlton said: “Wayne Rooney has maybe had an injury and he might not perform as well as he might have done but that’s not to say you get rid of him.

“Sir Alex Ferguson said he had no intentions of letting Wayne Rooney travel to anywhere and you have to abide by that, 100 per cent.

“He’s a great player. Why would we get rid of a great player?”

Sir Alex insisted over the weekend that the 27-year-old will be offered a new contract with the Red Devils, but Charlton was speaking in reaction to claims from Franz Beckenbauer that the German table-toppers were interested in Rooney.