Sir Alex Ferguson: Wayne Rooney will remain at Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson: Wayne Rooney will remain at Manchester United

The forward's future at Old Trafford has been the subject of intense speculation since he was surprisingly left out of the starting line-up for Tuesday's Champions League second-leg clash with Real Madrid.

Ferguson preferred Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck as his starters that night, with Rooney reduced to a cameo appearance from the bench.

And the plan worked well at first, with United 1-0 up and set to progress, before conceding twice after Nani was controversially sent off.

The United boss has previously left big-name players out of key games as a prelude to their departure and Rooney has been speculatively linked with some of Europe's biggest clubs over the past few days.

However, speaking ahead of Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea, Ferguson said of Rooney: "He will be here next year, you have my word on that.

"There is no issue between myself and Wayne Rooney, to suggest we don't talk is nonsense.

"Wayne understood the reasons for not playing him. It was completely tactical and tactically we got it right. We don't always but we did then.

"There are no issues with the player and he will be involved on Sunday.

"I left out Shinji Kagawa after he scored a hat-trick (against Norwich last weekend). I thought I would get more stick for that."

Ferguson was too upset to speak to the media after Tuesday's loss and remains embittered about the manner of United's Champions League exit.

"It is hard to keep your faith when you have things like that," he said.