Reports quickly emerged claiming that Rooney had been dropped from the squad after being deemed unfit to train following an evening out with some team mates and their wives and girlfriends.

Reports claimed that Rooney was now looking for a move away from the club after his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson had become too strained.

However, both Sir Alex Ferguson and Rooney have denied any rift and were getting along fine at the Ballon d’Or ceremony this week.

Rooney has spoke to Italian newspaper La Republica about the incident but insists he has put it behind him.

“I was tense when I got back on the pitch and I think it showed,” he said.

When asked if he had challenged the fine of one week’s wages, Rooney added: “Yes, but for reasons I can’t say, I accepted it.”

He continued: “You can’t always agree. Football is made up of all kinds of conflict. In a dressing room, between players, between us and the manager, between us and loads of people who don’t seem to matter. It’s constant and harsh sometimes.”

However, Rooney was also quick to insists that the row with Ferguson is firmly in the past. He said: “My manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, is the greatest present that life has given me.”

Nani got out of the way of the challenge, saving himself from getting hurt, and Wayne Rooney complained to referee Chris Foy.

After the game, Roberto Mancini claimed that the challenge was “300%” not a red card and accused Rooney of influencing the ref. It was interesting that he chose to criticise, given just days before he motioned to the referee that he should send off Martin Skrtel in City’s game against Liverpool.

“Rooney told him his decision,” he said. “We will do an appeal and I am sure that we will win.”

It appears as though it is not just referees who Rooney can tell what to do, but the FA as well, seeing as though they have today rejected City’s appeal against the red card. It’s a strange one. With so much influence at the FA, you would think Rooney would have done something about that ridiculous ban he received for swearing last season, which saw him miss out on the FA Cup semi-final defeat against City.

Maybe the FA just know the rules of the game: A player is guilty of serious foul play if he uses excessive force against an opponent when challenging for the ball. Any player who lunges at an opponent when challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs with excessive force and endangering the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.

The laws of the game support Rooney’s outrage at the challenge, just as the meetings the players have with referees ahead of each season do too.

“I clearly pointed out, and a few other players did as well, that it was a two-footed tackle,” Rooney said. “It was down to the ref to send him off. As professional footballers, when you leave the ground and go in two-footed we’ve now been told by the referees it’s a red card. Refs come and see us before the season starts. I felt Kompany had done that.”

Sir Alex Ferguson spoke in defence of Rooney, insisting the player had done no wrong.

“I have no concerns about the behaviour in that respect because to my mind it was a reckless challenge and Nani is a very lucky boy because he didn’t get a bad injury,” he said. “I have no complaints about Wayne, I don’t think it was unacceptable what he did. I think it was a natural reaction to a bad challenge from an opponent.”

A reaction more interesting than Rooney’s was Kompany’s, who didn’t question the decision at all. All players who get sent off for nothing ten minutes in to their derby, defending the only trophy their club has won in 35 years, walk off the field without even the slightest of complaint to the referee, don’t they?

As this is his second red card of the season, City’s captain will be missing for four games.

Following Rooney’s Boxing Day meal out, the press have been reporting of a big rift between the player and manager.

Either Rooney and Ferguson are better actors than we thought or the newspapers have been blowing the situation out of proportion this week.

“Sir Alex is the greatest manager of all time. Of course I would like to play under him for the rest of my career,” said Rooney. “He’s a great manager and is a big reason why I joined Manchester United. If I could finish my career playing under Sir Alex then I won’t have gone far wrong. As I said before he is, in my eyes, the best ever. His success and his trophies speak for themselves. He’s an incredible manager and has done so much for football and so much for my game as well. His every-day commitment to his job is what makes him stand out. He’s in before the players every morning and leaves after you. His commitment, his desire to win and his dedication is incredible.”

Iker Casillas
Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Nemanja Vidic, Dani Alves
Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Xabi Alonso
Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi.

Following the game, Roberto Mancini gave an incredible awkward interview with ITV on the matter, before later going on to clarify his opinion, insisting that Rooney got Kompany sent off.

“It was not a red card,” he said. “Rooney told him his decision. We will do an appeal and I am sure that we will win. It was 300% not a sending off.”

Rooney responded to this claim on Twitter, saying: “Funny how people think I got Kompany sent off. I’m not ref. I didn’t give red card. But it was a clear red card. 2 footed tackle.”

Rio Ferdinand also backed up this viewpoint on Twitter, saying: “How can there be any debate about the red card? You leave the ground with a two-foot tackle = Red card. Fact.”

The Independent

Acting quickly, in a statement issued last night by the club and Rooney’s agent, Paul Stretford, it was confirmed that Rooney has no intention of leaving United.

“Manchester United and Wayne Rooney have been made aware of the theme of an article in tomorrow’s Independent newspaper. We have not seen the detail but can assure all United fans that the Manager and the Club are committed to Wayne Rooney and Wayne is committed to the Manager and the Club. The player and the Manager have always had and retain the utmost respect for each other and look forward to working together in the coming seasons. Any suggestion that Manchester United and Wayne Rooney are to part company is complete nonsense.”

Rooney supported this statement on his Twitter account, saying: “The independent are talking absolute rubbish my future is with Manchester United and the club and I are totally commited to each other. The manager and I have no issues and anyone who says different don’t know what they are talking about.”

His wife Coleen supported this on Twitter: “Haha!! Rumours, rumours, rumours!! And newspapers up to there same old tricks! Chatting it as usual! Get better sources!”

The journalist behind the story, James Lawton, was interviewed on Radio 5 Live last night. A few drinks in to his Friday night, Lawton quickly back-peddled on his story, slurring his words for added comedy value.

“The point I’m trying to make in the story, and I think it’s a valid one, is that there is a real problem in the relationship between the Manchester United manager and his star player,” he said. “I stand by the essence of what I’ve said in that there is a problem. Ferguson is famous for asking for trust and loyalty in his players and when that breaks, it can have a lasting effect. But if Rooney starts to perform to the level of consistent professionalism, which is a reasonable expectation, perhaps the crisis will pass.”

Word got back to the manager and the players were ordered to do extra training on Wednesday, which was their day off. The three players then did extra training this morning when the rest of the squad were preparing for today’s game against Blackburn.

Rooney was seen watching the game from the stands and the players have apparently been fined.