Rooney to leave Manchester United

Just hours before today's much-anticipated press conference, the England striker was carried off on a stretcher during United's training session this morning.

Although Rooney did complete the first part of today's training session - which is open to the media - once the cameras had left he suffered an ankle injury that means he will miss tomorrow's Champions League encounter with Bursaspor at Old Trafford.

The news was revealed at the end of a dramatic five-minute resume of Rooney's status at the club by Ferguson, who confirmed the 24-year-old called off contract negotiations in August.

"David telephoned me and said he was on his way over because he had some bad news," said Ferguson.

"His agent said he wouldn't sign his contract and wanted away."

"It was a shock. I couldn't believe it," continued 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."

Ferguson revealed that he tried to change the striker's mind.

"I had a meeting with him, and he intimated to me, in his own way, that he wanted to leave," he said.

"We had a discussion about the whole situation. I said 'the only thing I want from you Wayne is to respect and honour the club's position and its traditions and behave like a proper professional and we will try and see it through'.

"I did say to him, as David Gill intimated, that there was an offer there if he was prepared to accept it. It was an offer that never got to any financial discussions.

"I know that David was prepared to offer him a contract that would be difficult to better elsewhere."