David Moyes Unsure If Wayne Rooney Is Happy at Manchester United After TV Spat

Wayne Rooney was the star of the show as Manchester United kicked off their Champions League campaign with a 4-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, but David Moyes later confessed he does not know if the striker wants to stay at Old Trafford. 

Rooney reached a significant landmark against the German outfit, netting twice to record his 200th goal for United. However, the forward has yet to offer full clarity over his future after a summer-long flirtation with Chelsea.

Moyes was pressed on Rooney in his post-match press conference. Reporters asked if he was happy and ready to commit to the club, per Adam Crafton and John Edwards of the Daily Mail, to which the manager replied:

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I don’t know. He has been great in training, working hard, head down and he looks fit.

I’m only just here but I have seen goals from Wayne before. I said a few months ago that he has a real chance to become one of greats.

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The context to Moyes’ words was provided by Rooney moments earlier. Speaking to ITV in his own post-match interview, the England forward failed to cement his allegiance to United, despite two chances to do so.

In the end, the tone of the interview became terse as Rooney attempted to steer around questions over his reported desire to join Chelsea. ESPN provides the quotes:

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Listen, I will concentrate on my football as I have done all summer. I got my head down in the summer, worked hard and I'm concentrating on my football. The fans here have been fantastic with me and the reception I get here is great. Hopefully I can reward them with goals.

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When questioned further on the topic, Edwards and Crafton report a sharper response from Rooney, who replied: “Listen, I’ve just told you, I am concentrating on my football which I’ve been doing all summer.”

The best thing for United would be for Moyes and Rooney to sit around a table to find a solution to the current unease surrounding the club’s No. 10.

Clearly, doubt remains over Rooney’s long-term future. If a player wholeheartedly wants to stay at a club, he would say so. And if a manager knew his star man was committed, he wouldn’t invite unwanted attention by clouding the issue.

Disharmony exists courtesy of Sir Alex Ferguson’s May revelation that Rooney wanted to leave. The reason could be Chelsea, or it could be the player’s wish to earn more money, as ex-Chelsea captain Marcel Desailly claims via the Daily Star; in truth, it could be any number of reasons.

But while questions continue (and make no mistake that Moyes will face another gun squad on the issue ahead of the Manchester derby), the threat of unsettling United’s squad is evident.

Defeat in the derby to neighbours City would leave Moyes with seven points from a possible 15. It would leave United fans questioning their summer transfer activity, and it would intensify doubts over the dressing room.

Rooney was magic against Leverkusen, and Moyes is completely right when he says the man could become a United legend, per Edwards and Crafton:

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Wayne was great tonight. His pass for Antonio’s goal was excellent. It is great. I am not a historian but there are only four goalscorers to do it (score 200 for United) before. He has a real chance to be an all-time leading goalscorer. If he keeps playing like he did tonight, then he will get there.

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But to be a club legend at United, you have to wear the badge with pride and show the fans you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Rooney, as of yet, is wide of the target on the latter.