Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that superstar striker Wayne Rooney wants to leave Manchester United in the January transfer window.
The United boss made the startling admission during a candid press conference on Wednesday, saying Rooney is adamant he wants to leave and has refused to sign a contract extension.
Speaking ahead of United's Champions League clash against Group C rivals Bursaspor on Thursday, Ferguson - who did not take questions from the assembled media - said Rooney is committed to leaving Old Trafford in January.
Ferguson was at a loss to explain why or how Rooney came to the decision, but says he will leave open the possibility of welcoming the superstar back to Old Trafford sometime in the future.
"I know that there could be a million questions on this subject. I can't answer them," Ferguson said.
"I can give an opinion but that creates a side issue that we don't really need to get into, but we would like to present the facts."
"[United Chief Executive] David Gill had a preliminary talk with his agent at the end of last season, which was to be continued after the World Cup. [Gill] says, 'I've got some bad news for you'. His agent had intimated he wouldn't sign a contract and he wanted away."
"It was a shock. We couldn't believe it because, in earlier discussions - as early as February or March I think - he intimated he wanted to stay, he wanted to sign a life contract."
"He was happy at the club - he [said he] was at the best club in the world."
"I must say it was terribly disappointing when I got the news because we couldn't quite understand it. I had a meeting with him and he said to me, in his own way, that he wanted to leave."
"The one thing I said to him was 'respect this club, I don't want any nonsense from you'," Ferguson said.
"I don't know if he has done that. I have doubts on that; we are reading all these things about falling out with me and all that nonsense."
"I did say to him - and David Gill has also intimated - that there was an offer there if he was prepared to accept it. It was an offer that never got to any financial discussions."
"[But] I know that David was prepared to offer him a contract that would be difficult to better elsewhere."
"It's disappointing because we have done everything we possibly can to help Wayne Rooney ever since he came to the club."
Ferguson was also adamant that Rooney is suffering from an ankle injury, contradicting the 24-year-old's claims that he has been at full fitness all season.
The United boss confirmed that Rooney will not take part in the match against Bursaspor due to his ankle complaint.
"Yes, he was injured. I said that in a TV interview some weeks ago," Ferguson said.
"We sent him for a scan but there was no doubt that although he's able to train he's still carrying traces of that injury."
"Why he came out and said that you can only guess yourself. It was disappointing."
In a separate interview with MUTV, Ferguson said he was disappointed that reports of Rooney's dissatisfaction at Old Trafford had circulated in the media.
"What we're seeing now in the media is disappointing because we've done everything we can for Wayne Rooney, since the minute he's come to the club," Ferguson said.
"We've always been there as a harbour for him. Any time he's been in trouble, the advice we've given him. I've even been prepared to give him financial advice, many times."
"But you do that for your players, not just Wayne Rooney. That's Manchester United. This is a club which bases all its history and its tradition on the loyalty and trust between managers and players and the club."
"That goes back to the days of Sir Matt [Busby]. That's what it's founded on. Wayne's been a beneficiary of this help, just as Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and all the players have been. That's what we're there for."
"There's been no falling out. That's why we need to clarify the situation now for our fans. Because what we saw on Saturday was unacceptable."
"When we were at 2-2 [against West Bromwich Albion] and the fans were chanting for Wayne Rooney, it put pressure on the players and it didn't do any good for the team. So we've got to clarify the situation and try to do it right."