“I met with David Gill last week and he did not give me any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad. I then told him that I would not be signing a new contract.”

United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson broke the news in a press conference and said that “I’ve got some bad news for you’. His agent had intimated he wouldn’t sign a contract and he wanted away.” This was a shock to Ferguson as he had many discussions with Rooney and Rooney seemed perfectly happy with the team. He also stated that the club had done nothing but help him from the time Rooney had joined the team and that there has been no falling out between the two.

Since the announcement, there has been a lot of speculation as to why Rooney as suddenly came to this decision. Some think that it is a big poker bluff and that he is trying to find a way to get more respect from the club. There are some suggestions that a recent benching may have accelerated this process. Ferguson claimed that he thought Rooney was injured and Rooney claimed he was not. Rooney then had a series of meetings where he was looking for assurances that the club would pursue high caliber players. The results of those meetings are one of the major reasons he is using for his desire to leave.

Part of the deal may have to do with money. It is no secret that Manchester United is having money issues and have had to pass on players or sell players to pick up cash. Is it possible that Rooney sees the salary that other players are making and has decided to go where the money is? Many gambling sites with numerous poker deposit methods would lay odds on Rooney going where the money is. That would not be uncommon in today’s sports world.

In fact, there rumors that the club may sell off Rooney’s contract in January. Manchester United dismissed these claims as rubbish, but as one ESPN analyst stated, the more they wait, the less Rooney is worth. You wait too long, and you give clubs nearly the equivalent of poker freerolls where clubs can pick him up on the cheap.

Sir Alex Ferguson stated that the door was still open for Rooney to remain with the United and even Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho thought that Rooney would stay. He stated, “I think the big man will persuade him to stay.” Ultimately,  Mourinho proved to be correct as Rooney signed a new contract on Friday with the United that will make him the highest paid player in team history and keep him there through 2015.

The England international stated, “I’m signing a new deal in the absolute belief that the management, coaching staff, board and owners are totally committed to making sure United maintains its proud winning history, which is the reason I joined the club in the first place.”

Now that this contract saga has been concluded, let’s hope that Rooney will go back to showing the flashes of brilliance that earned him this contract.

Guest Blog Post by Dave Marshall

The leading scorer as things stand now is Wayne Rooney, who blasted in 9 goals in 9 games in the qualifiers. Other prolific net-finders were Frank Lampard who contributed with 4 goals and Peter Crouch who managed to find the net 4 times despite making only 4 appearances in an England shirt. Steven Gerrard scored three times too so the firepower is definitely there. The World Cup betting sites make Rooney the overwhelming favourite to score the most goals for England with odds of 6/4, while Frank Lampard is quoted at 5/1.

Now that England are playing against outfits like the USA, Slovenia and Algeria, it would be foolish to think that the goals are going to come quite as easily as they did against the likes of Andorra and Kazakhstan. Nevertheless the statistics do show that Capello’s team can seize their goal chances when they come along.

Of course all the players have some way to go before they overhaul Bobby Charlton’s 49 goal record while playing in an England shirt. But there is no denying that Rooney’s prolific goalscoring for England and his 26 goal tally in 32 Premier league games this season show what he is capable of. When you look at the fact that he is only 24 there is every chance that he may one day become England’s all-time top goalscorer.

In my mind there is no doubt that Rooney must be considered a candidate for the World Cup’s Golden Boot award if he can repeat his scintillating League form in South Africa. Among the betting fraternity there is some support for Rooney’s chances of him becoming the top goalscorer of the 2010 World Cup with online betting sites offering tasty odds of 12/1 that he will do it. Even though he will be up against brilliant strikers like Spain’s David Villa, Brazil’s Luis Fabiano and Argentina’s Lionel Messi he must be in with more than a chance there.

Capello’s strongest playing card is the strength of the England forward line and what England fans must be hoping for is that he can match that strength in the other areas of the team.