Wayne Rooney's future with Manchester United is as uncertain as it has ever been and it seems that Bayern Munich is more than willing to bring in the star player.
"I would be very, very happy if Wayne Rooney decided to come to Bayern Munich," Honorary Bayern Munich president and soccer legend Franz Beckenbauer said. "But is this a rumour or is it true? I don't know!"
The rumors of Rooney's transfer arose when Sir Alex Ferguson chose to bench him in the crucial second leg of the Champions league 2013 Round of 16 match against Real Madrid. Ferguson decision made many wonder whether or not Rooney was no longer an essential piece for Ferguson.
However, Ferguson asserts that he doesn't want Rooney to leave. "We don't want players to leave. He'll definitely be here next season, there's no doubt about that," he said.
Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton echoed Ferguson's sentiments. "I think that is a bit premature [to question Rooney's future]," Charlton said. "I don't know everything that happens at Manchester United, but I know a little... Wayne Rooney maybe has had an injury and has not performed as well as he might have done, but that doesn't mean to say that you get rid of him."
He added, "Sir Alex Ferguson came out and said that he had no intention of letting Wayne Rooney go anywhere. You have to abide by that and I believe it, 100%. He is a great player - why should we get rid of a great player?"
Rooney's status as Manchester's marquee player was questioned over the summer when Ferguson bought Robin Van Persie from Arsenal. Many believed that the acquisition was a sign that the team no longer saw Rooney as its franchise star. In a recent article Ian Macintosh of ESPN noted that Rooney has never fulfilled his potential. "He was England's greatest hope, the weapon required to turn those near-misses and laughable failures into trophy-wielding glory. And it hasn't really turned out like that, has it? Perhaps it's time to accept that Rooney is simply a very good footballer, maybe even an excellent one. He's just not a great one," writes Macintosh.