Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed that star striker Wayne Rooney wants to leave the club,expressing 'shock and disappointment' at the player's stance. "I had a meeting with him. He intimated to me in his own way that he wanted to leave," Ferguson said at a dramatic press conference ahead of United's Champions League tie with Turkish side Bursaspor on Wednesday. Speculation about Rooney's future had raged for days after Ferguson dropped the 24-year-old England international for last Saturday's Premier League clash with West Bromwich Albion. It came after Rooney publicly contradicted Ferguson's claims that he was suffering from an ankle injury by telling reporters he was fully fit. Ferguson finally broke his silence on the saga at an extraordinary press briefing,confirming that Rooney had requested to leave Old Trafford but denying any argument with the player. A clearly shellshocked Ferguson said he had first been made aware of Rooney's desire to leave before the start of the new season,when informed by United chief executive David Gill. "It was a shock. I couldn't believe it," said Ferguson. "In early discussions - in March I think - we had discussions with him,he intimated he wanted to stay,that he wanted a life contract with the club,that he was at the best club in the world. "It was terribly disappointing to get the news. We couldn't understand it." "We have to keep the door open because he is such a good player," Ferguson said,admitting he was baffled by the stance of Rooney,who he signed as a teenager from Everton in 2004. "We have done nothing but help him since he came to this club,that is why this is such a mystery to us. We've helped him with his private life and other matters," Ferguson said "So we're as bemused as anyone can be because we can't understand why he would want to leave a club that is successful as we are in British football."
