Bastian Schweinsteiger

Manchester United hopes of summer move for Bastian Schweinsteiger scuppered by Bayern Munich

Manchester United are facing a new battle with Bayern Munich if they are to lure Bastian Schweinsteiger to Old Trafford next summer.

Hot property: Bastian Schweinsteiger is being courted by Manchester United Photo: AFP

The Bundesliga club have warned that Germany international Schweinsteiger will be forced to honour the remaining 18 months of his contract.

United, who spent more than a year attempting to thrash out a deal for Owen Hargreaves prior to his £18m transfer from Bayern in May 2007, are keen to take advantage of Schweinsteiger’s current contract stalemate with last season’s Champions League finalists.

Schweinsteiger, 26, has so far refused to commit to a new deal at the Allianz Arena, prompting United, Chelsea and Barcelona to increase their interest in the player, who starred for Germany during the World Cup.

Schweinsteiger has admitted a desire to play in the Premier League, with United understood to be his preferred destination, but Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has ruled out the prospect of a sale next summer to avoid him leaving as a free agent in June 2012.

Rummenigge said: “Let me make this absolutely clear - our goal is to agree a long-term contract extension with Bastian Schweinsteiger.

“And we’ve agreed with (coach) Louis van Gaal that Bastian will not under any circumstances be allowed to leave until his contract ends.

“We all think Bastian has come on superbly in the last two years. He has become one of Bayern and Germany’s best players.

“He was a vital component in our success last season and our success this season and I’m optimistic that we will reach a fair solution with Bastian and his agents.”

Bayern, who reported an annual turnover of €312m on Tuesday, have agreed long-term contracts with Franck Ribery, Thomas Mueller and Philipp Lahm since the end of last season.

High five

High five: Berbatov became only the fourth player to five goals in a Premier League game, joining Alan Shearer, Andy Cole and Jermaine Defoe

Five Star Berbatov

Sigh of relief: Manchester United's striker Dimitar Berbatov is congratulated by Michael Carrick (right) after scoring scored United's opener against Blackburn - his first goal in 10 games, and his first of five in 90 minutes

Rudeboy says sorry to me?

Rooney says sorry to fans

Striker insists City move was out of the question

Rooney: Fans apology

Wayne Rooney
Quotes of the week

I feel like I have apologised to the fans but everyone keeps saying that I haven't. If that is the case, then I apologise for my side of things.

Wayne Rooney has finally apologised to the Manchester United fans for the way his transfer negotiations were dealt with last month.

The England striker also claimed there was never the remotest possibility he would have left United for Manchester City.

Sir Alex Ferguson said Rooney had apologised to his team-mates and intended to do the same to the Red Devils supporters when he put an end to a week of controversy by signing a five-year deal.

However, three opportunities to make good that promise were not taken by the 25-year-old.

But on Wednesday night, following his match-winning penalty in UEFA Champions Leagueaction at Rangers, Rooney offered his apology, before insisting there was no truth in the intense rumours about a move to fierce local rivals City.

Apology

"I feel like I have apologised to the fans but everyone keeps saying that I haven't," said Rooney.

"If that is the case, then I apologise for my side of things.

"I have made my point clear since I signed my contract that I am committed to this club for the long term. I want to be successful here.

"Everyone is saying that I was definitely going to Manchester City. Believe me if I had gone it wouldn't have been in England."

For two or three days it appeared certain Rooney was on his way out of Old Trafford as the ill-feeling towards the striker grew.

Yet he now acknowledges that departing the club could have been the biggest mistake of his career.

"Of course," he said. "You see so many players leave this club and not do so well so I am delighted to have stayed."

Direction

Unhappy about the future direction United were heading under the Glazer ownership, Rooney wanted assurances standards would not be allowed to fall.

And the striker explained the process of renewing his deal was straightforward once those assurances were given to him.

"I spoke with the manager and (chief executive) David Gill. They reassured me the club was moving forward and from that it took maybe two or three hours to negotiate my contract and sign it," he said.

"It wasn't a distraction to my football because I haven't played that much but it was a distraction overall. I am just happy it is all over now. I want to put it behind me and look forward."

Wazza who?

• 
  Wayne Rooney went some way to making his peace with Manchester United supporters on Wednesday night after firing his club into the last 16 of the Champions League.

The England striker, making his first start since signing a new £200,000-a-week contract after threatening to quit Old Trafford, scored a late penalty to seal a 1-0 win against Rangers at Ibrox.

Roo beauty: Rooney nets a late penalty to seal United's place in the last 16

He then celebrated exuberantly with the United supporters. Rooney said: 'I wanted to celebrate it with our fans so I went over. It's a relief for me to score but now hopefully I can build on this.'

Roaring ahead: comeback kid Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring the only goal of the match

Tottenham are also through after a 3-0 win over Werder Bremen, with Younes Kaboul, Luka Modric and Peter Crouch on target.

Rudeboy Rooney

Rooney: No nerves over penalty

November 24, 2010

• 
  
• 
  

Wayne Rooney says he felt no nerves standing over the late penalty that sealed Manchester United's victory over Rangers in the Champions League.

PA PhotosA fan enters the field to celebrate Wayne Rooney's late penalty

Just four minutes remained when Fabio was felled by Steven Naismith and Rooney was handed the responsibility of despatching the spot kick that secured United's passage to the last 16 of the competition.

It also signalled Rooney's return in a season scarred by personal problems, loss of form, injury and that amazing week last month which started with a fear that he would leave Old Trafford and ended with the 25-year-old signing a new five-year contract.

"There were not many nerves really,'' said Rooney. "I knew what I was doing and where I was going. I can only do that. If the keeper guesses the right way and saves it, so be it. Thankfully it went in.

"Obviously it is a bit of a relief for me to score. Hopefully I can build on this now.''

Rooney's only other goal this season came from the penalty spot too, against West Ham in August, and he was quick to race away to the United section of a packed Ibrox, another step forward in rebuilding his relationship with the club's fans.

"I wanted to celebrate with our fans,'' he said. "It is always nice to beat Rangers away. Hopefully I can go on a goalscoring run now but really I am just delighted to be back playing again.

"I felt good. I felt fit throughout the game. I want to build on this performance and this goal.''

Rooney's manager Sir Alex Ferguson hailed Rooney's courage for taking the match winning penalty. "It took a lot of courage to take the penalty kick,'' Ferguson said on ITV 1. "It was not an easy night, he missed a couple of chances but that's what you expect with the rustiness in his game. We are pleased for him.

He added: "Every time he scores a goal he wants to celebrate with the fans and players.'' On Rooney's fitness, the Scot added: "He's got a bit to go.'' A draw against Valencia would see United top the group.

"We want to go and win the group,'' added Ferguson. "We've got Valencia at home, we can look forward to that.''

United were awarded the penalty when Steven Naismith was penalised for a dangerous challenge on Fabio, catching him in the face with his foot as he looked to hook the ball away.

"Little bit disappointed to lose out to that type of goal. I don't think there was any great intent in Steven Naismith's challenge,'' Rangers boss Walter Smith said.

Rangers are at least guaranteed third place in the group and a place in the Europa League. "We are happy on one respect that we do have European football after Christmas,'' added Smith.

Wazza back

Sir Alex Ferguson hails Wayne Rooney's 'courage' after Manchester United striker returns to score winner

Wayne Rooney claimed his match-winning penalty against Rangers was for the Manchester United supporters after insisting he was not affecting by nerves as he stepped up to score his first goal since threatening to leave Old Trafford.

Hitting the spot: Wayne Rooney celebrates his penalty with an admirer Photo: AP

Rooney, starting his first game for two months, raced to the corner of Ibrox housing the traveling supporters after converting the 86th minute penalty which confirmed United’s qualification for the Champions League knock-out stages.

The 25-year-old’s relationship with the United supporters has been damaged by his week-long contract stand-off with the club last month, with many fans viewing his stance as an act of treachery.

But Rooney held out an olive branch to his doubters by admitting his first instinct after scoring was to celebrate with the United supporters.

He said: “Obviously it is a bit of a relief for me to score and hopefully I can build on this now.

“I wanted to celebrate with our fans, so I went over to them and a fan jumped on me!

“There were not many nerves really. I knew what I was doing and where I was going to put it (the penalty). I can only do that.

“If the keeper guesses the right way and saves it, so be it, but thankfully it went in.

“I just hope I can go on a goalscoring run now. I am delighted to be back playing again and I felt good. I felt fit throughout the game. Hopefully I can build on this performance and this goal and take it from there.”

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson paid tribute to Rooney’s self-belief following his decision to take responsibility for the penalty.

Ferguson said: “It took courage, but he has never been short of that. It was a fantastic penalty, a very good penalty.

“Wayne needs the games and the way we’re going to do that is to keep him on he pitch for 90 minutes.

“That will continue now as we try to get him to his level. He’s rusty. He needs games, that’s obvious, but it’s a start for him.

“He’s not had an easy night. He’s missed a couple of chances, but that’s what we expected.

“There’s no issues with that [the fans] at all. Every time he scores he weds himself to the fans and the players.”

United will secure top spot if they avoid a two goal defeat against Valencia next month and, despite seeing his team score just six goals in Europe this season, Ferguson insists they are progressing well in the Champions League.

Ferguson said: “Our away form in Europe has been very good over the years.

“But for that injury-time winner Bayern Munich scored against us last season, we’d have had an unbeaten record that stretched over three years.

“We’ve found a way of playing in Europe away from home and there’s good composure in the team. The atmosphere is always big at Ibrox and you have to quiet it. I think we did that well.

“We want to win the group. We’ve got Valencia at home and I think we’ll be all right.”