It's surreal - United's best player last season, the player they've built the side around and given the platform to be truly world class, and one that said as recently as March that he wanted a life contract at United, now wants to leave.

And has wanted to leave since before this season started - which predates the scandal in his private life breaking, and which predates (but explains) the poor form he's found himself in this season. I love Manchester United, I can't understand how someone would go from being fully commited to the club he's been at for 6 years in March, to wanting out in August, to forcing the managers hand by publically contradicting him in October.

Most United fans expected Ronaldo to leave when he did in 2009, but our great hope at the time, affirmed by the player, was that Rooney would be here for years and was just as good. Not so, apparently. To add insult to injury any money received will probably disappear into trying to pay off the owners 600 million debt, as opposed to buying a replacement.