So Wayne Rooney does want to leave Manchester United. I'll admit I was one of those who immediately thought 'it's all about money', but the England international's statement does make sense. Manchester United look like a club going in the wrong direction; extraordinary debts, no promises of investment in the squad and on the field, they are falling further behind Chelsea by the week. Now dwarfed in financial standards by neighbours Manchester City, Sir Alex can no longer buy the talent to see United back on top. So Rooney wants out.
Again, after initially calling him a money-grabbing greedy Shrek, I can now see where he is coming from. He wants to win trophies and United are no longer guaranteed to do so; Chelsea should win the league this year and both the FA Cup and the Carling Cup depend on luck; while United's Champions League odds are lengthening by the week. And the departure of their best player isn't going to help that, or convince Sir Alex Ferguson to stick around much longer. But just where does Rooney go?
In what would be one of the most controversial moves the game has seen, Manchester City offers probably the most ambitious route. Billions to spend and an already quality squad, could Rooney go the same way as Carlos Tevez and go to Eastlands, incurring the wrath of all Reds fans? No, is my guess. For one, I think he has more love for United than that and two, I think he's looking for a different challenge. Chelsea remains an option; they could pay his wages, desperately need a younger star to take over their aging legs and if he decides to stay in England, this will be his choice. But in rejecting the biggest contract United have ever offered, Rooney has shown people it's not all about money and this only points in one direction: Spain.
La Liga is fast becoming the league to challenge the Premier League's claim to being the best league in the world. Whereas I don't think it's there yet, it is certainly trying to buy that dominance and Rooney could be the latest import. Barcelona would probably want him (who wouldn't?), but I don't really see him at the Nou Camp. In a squad containing Messi, Villa, Pedro, Bojan and Jeffren, would he get the first-team football he would demand? Meaning one club is left, Real Madrid.
Real would be a good fit for Rooney. With Ronaldo there, Jose Mourinho at the helm and a squad of world-class performers, they are going places and should be up there for it all this season. And no-one can accuse them of lacking the ambition; only Man. City have spent more than them in bridging the gap to Barcelona. I don't think the whole situation is cut and dry; United could still pull out some promises from the bag in a last-ditch attempt to keep their biggest star, but if Rooney does leave, place your bets on the Bernabeu being his destination.
Millwall 0 Portsmouth 1: Huge Win
At a tough place to go for anyone, Pompey's latest win has the potential to be huge. A first away victory since February, a first clean sheet in nine games and one over an old enemy are just a few of the plus points on view at The New Den. Liam Lawrence grabbed his fifth goal in his short time at the club, while Greg Halford made an impressive debut as the Blues covered a mix-and-match defence well. It's the first time in about two years that Pompey fans have had something real to shout about; the squad seems to be gelling well and confidence is flowing, the results have began coming and we are now looking forward to games. I still think we need to concentrate on rebuilding the club, a steady season in the Championship will be a success. But well done lads, it's great to watch the club winning football matches again and long may it continue.
Play Up Pompey
And here's Yuri Zhirkov's goal for Chelsea against Spartak Moscow this week. Quality.
NWR
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