Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has told him he is "adamant" he won't sign a new contract and wants to leave.

Rooney, 24, has dominated the front and back pages this week after rumours emerged he wasn't prepared to extend his deal that has just 18 months to run. With Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and bitter rivals Manchester City all link with a big money swoop for his signature, United were forced to deny reports their star player would be sold in the January transfer window.

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Speaking to reporters in the build up to Wednesday night's Champions League clash with Bursaspor, Ferguson issued a lengthy statement at the end to confirm the news last season's 34-goal centre forward wanted away.

He said: " [Chief executive] David Gill had a preliminary talk with his agent at the end of last season and it was to be continued after the World Cup. He told me he was on his way over from Carrington and said 'I have some bad news for you.'

"His agent has intimated that he wouldn't be signing a contract and wanted away. It was a shock.

"I couldn't believe it as in earlier discussions, as early as March, he intimated he wanted to stay and sign a long contract, he was happy at the best club in the world and I was very terribly disappointed as we couldn't quite understand it.

"I had a meeting with him and he intimated to me in his own way that he wanted to leave.

"By then, we had a discussion about the whole situation and I said: 'The one thing I want from you Wayne is to honour and respect the club's position and it's traditions and behave like a proper professional and we'll try and see it through.'

"Although I did say, and David Gill has intimated, there is an offer there if he is prepared to accept it. It's an offer we've never gone into any financial discussion, i.e., money wise.

"But, I know David was prepared to offer him a contract that would be difficult to better elsewhere.

The Scot added: "I can't answer any question about why is he doing it. You can speculate and have opinions and it won't matter a dickey bird simply because the player is adamant he wants to leave."

Ferguson also moved to contradict claims Rooney made that he had not been carrying an ankle injury at any stage this season.

He stated: "First of all I must tell you I've never had an argument with Wayne at any time. He got an ankle injury in the Rangers game, he was seen clearly hobbling about before half-time.

"He actually confirmed it himself in an interview with Sky. I spoke to him before the Sunderland game and my planning was, based on fact he wasn't playing that well, was to leave him out of the Sunderland game, make sure his ankle is properly prepared for the next game and give him a 10-day recovery so he could play for England.

"My hope was that with planning for England at Wembley he could recapture his form and we could kick on.

"His entry into the mixed zone at Wembley has created that next stage we have had to deal with, i.e. he said he wasn't injured.

"That was disappointing as we know fine well he was carrying an injury. We sent him for a scan and that showed a minor defect in terms of the ankle injury, nothing serious, but needed treatment and he has had treatment."

Ferguson also went on to reveal that Rooney was carried off on a stretcher after he picked up a fresh ankle knock in training today and would miss the match with the Turkish champions.