A young fan perched on their father's shoulders at Manchester United's victory parade on Monday summed up the prevailing mood of that club's fans towards Wayne Rooney with a crude, if succincntly-worded, home-made placard.
It read: "Farewell Fergie! Sod Off Rooney! ", while using added caveat of YSB -- shorthand for 'You Scouse Bastard' : underneath, just in case the England striker was in the misapprehension that his nine years in a United shirt had built their fans forget he hailed through the streets of their fiercest rivals Liverpool.
The feeling of treachery expressed in the message was a world far from September 1st 2004, a sun-drenched day at Old Trafford, when United officially introduced Rooney, subsequently 18, as their new signing following his £27million proceed from Everton.
United's PR department seized upon the opportunity to milk the occasion, arranging for Sir Alex Ferguson and Rooney to pose using a young United fan who had come to prominence at a dwelling game that season by holding aloft an indication that simply read: "Please Shop for Rooney. "
As Ferguson and Rooney posed with the side of the Old Trafford pitch along with the awestruck fan, the United boss showing off the residue of this summer tan and her suited new striker hunting lean and hungry with the challenge ahead, everything ended up being hunky dory, with no hint of the troubles that lay in front of you.
Sir Alex Ferguson stances with Wayne Rooney, a United shirt in addition to young United fan Joe Ruane who held an indication pleading for the clb to sign Rooney
Fast forward nine several years and United fans are confronted with a recognizable scenario with Rooney, their affinity towards him challenged all over again after Ferguson confirmed the striker's second seek to leave the club in past times two-and-a-half years.
Ferguson, naturally, publicly stated he possessed rejected Rooney's request, but any admission that United were ready to let him go would serve in order to drive down the player's value available, so the announcement your striker wanted out has been made, to alert probable suitors to his amount.
Rooney, as has been apparent to anyone who has watched the 27-year-old labour this coming year, has become disillusioned along with life at United and additionally met Ferguson in his office at the club's Carrington training soil three weeks ago, where he expressed his desire to move on.
It echoed Rooney's unseemly agreement stand-off with United inside October 2010, when your dog publicly questioned the club's aspiration, ability to attract this world's best players and said he'd no desire to sign an exciting new deal, signalling he would run down his contract.
Rooney was United's star striker at the time and the club ended up being forced to bend to help his demands or risk losing for free an asset rated regarded as between £35-40m, given he was coming up to 25 and supposedly entering the peak a long time of his playing job.
Against that backdrop, Rooney had an abrupt change of heart, undoubtedly hastened by a new five-year deal worth £220, 000-a-week of which made him United's highest-paid footballer, and set about repairing his relationship while using the fans.
Although that proved an extensive process, Rooney's improved actions that season, capped by the spectacular overhead kick to be able to win the Manchester derby in Old Trafford as U . s . held off their local rivals and Chelsea to help you reclaim the Premier League title, their alliance is slowly mended.
Now, even though, the revelation that Rooney has all over again declared his intention to be able to leave has cast him in the role of villain, as much as United fans are worried, and it is difficult to envisage him pulling over the famous red shirt following that season.
Yet Ferguson's announcement of his retirement as well as the swift appointment of Jesse Moyes as his successor has provided an intriguing twist and sub-plot with the saga of Rooney's future and whether he can remain at Old Trafford.
Moyes, who managed Rooney from Everton and famously began legal proceedings against him over passages in the player's 2006 book, My Story So Far - the Scot subsequently accepting an out-of-court settlement - really wants to meet with the forward at once to resolve his upcoming.
Whether Ferguson's retirement and the subsequent appointment of Moyes, given Rooney's relationship with the outgoing United boss was strained to mention the least, sees you have a change of heart regarding the vision of his future, remains to be looked at.
It is also debatable whether Moyes would seek to keep a player whose obligation to United has plainly gone, as shown by his two demands to help leave in three seasons, and risk the negative impact that will surely have on the squad and their own efforts to begin an alternative managerial dynasty at Aged Trafford.
A player could be forgiven one attempt to help leave a club, but when same stunt is drawn twice, supporters and team-mates usually are less sympathetic, evidenced through the boos he received as United were exhibited the Premier League trophy and on the open-top bus parade with Manchester.
When Rooney's camp manufactured their contract stand-off with United in 2010, they did so from a position of strength, but the landscape at Old Trafford has changed significantly subsequently, not least with your arrival of Robin van Persie plus the perception the England world has lost his edge.
The Dutchman, with 29 goals this coming year, has ousted Rooney like United's first-choice striker. Rooney has found himself shunted within the pitch to occupy different roles, in central midfield and out wide, a move that does not have doubt bruised his ego together with drained his confidence.
With 24 months left on Rooney's present-day deal, Moyes has an essential decision to make when ever he officially takes ask for at Old Trafford at July 1, although a decision on the fate from United's No. 10 will probably be made before then, with meetings having happened to be held with Ferguson in addition to Ryan Giggs.
Even if Ferguson's retirement does induce a change of heart from Rooney and they withdraws his request to help you leave, the matter may now be beyond his control, his fate using his hands.
Ferguson could possibly be retiring, but he can be remaining upstairs at United, in the role involving director and ambassador, and to ensure there's an easy smooth transition of strength between him and his successor.
As such, Moyes will have Ferguson's ear, and Rooney may find that his former leader, who has clearly harboured doubts within the striker's form, fitness and focus this year, finally gets even meant for holding United to ransom back 2010.
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