Carlo Ancelotti dodges questions about Wayne Rooney

Carlo Ancelotti dodges questions about Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Rooney has scored only one league goal this season

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has brushed off speculation the champions might be interested in signing Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.

The 24-year-old England forward's contract expires in the summer of 2012 and it is understood talks over a new deal have broken down.

"I can't really give an answer about this," said Ancelotti.

"He has some problem at this moment but when a big team has top players like Rooney, they want to keep him."

Ahead of Chelsea's Champions League match against Spartak Moscow in Russia on Tuesday, Ancelotti was asked several times if the Blues would bid for Rooney in the January transfer window but the Italian refused to be drawn on the matter.

"If you want to know what players Chelsea want to buy and how much money they want to spend on players you should ask Roman directly," he added, referring to the club's billionaire owner, Roman Abramovich.

United chief executive David Gill has promised to give the media a "statement at the appropriate time".

I would tell him to make sure he looks after number one

Roy Keane on Wayne Rooney

And United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to be asked about Rooney's future at a news conference on Tuesday (about 1400 BST) ahead of the Champions League game with Turkish side Bursaspor on Wednesday.

Manchester City and Real Madrid have also been linked with Rooney, although the Spanish club's coach Jose Mourinho predicted the striker would stay at Old Trafford.

"I don't think he will leave," stated Mourinho, ahead of Real's Champions League match with AC Milan. "I think Ferguson will persuade him to stay."

Earlier on Monday, Real director general Jorge Valdano also appeared to quash speculation of an imminent move for Rooney, who has not scored for United from open play since March - although he did not rule out one in the summer.

He told Telemadrid: "The question is, who would we move aside if we signed another striker? In January, there will be neither ins nor outs. June is a long way away."

Meanwhile, former Manchester United star Roy Keane has suggested Rooney should concentrate on looking after himself.

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"Players and managers fall out all the time. It is part of life," said the Ipswich manager whose Old Trafford playing career was ended in four lines of appreciative quotes from his manager in November 2005.

"If I was to offer advice to Wayne, who is a good lad, I would tell him to make sure he looks after number one.

"Players are pieces of meat - that's how I look at it. When your time's up, your time's up."

Like Mourinho, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger also predicted Rooney would remain at Old Trafford.

"I am convinced he will stay at Manchester United because it is his club. They have the power to keep him and I don't believe in the story," he added.

Real's arch-rivals Barcelona are also rumoured to be interested in Rooney, whose value is likely to drop as his contract nears expiration.

The England striker's relationship with Ferguson has been under scrutiny in recent weeks.

Rooney missed United's Premier League fixture at Everton in September after allegations about his private life and he was then left out of subsequent games by Ferguson, who claimed the England international had an ankle injury.

However, last Tuesday, after England's 0-0 draw against Montenegro in a Euro 2010 qualifier at Wembley, Rooney contradicted the Scot's statement and insisted he was fit and had not had any ankle problem.

On Saturday Rooney, who has scored only one goal in five Premier League appearances for United this season, was left out of the starting line-up for the 2-2 draw with West Brom.

Ferguson brought his striker on with 20 minutes remaining, after United had squandered a two-goal lead, and asked him to play on the left wing.





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