Rooney wants fresh challenge - Phelan

Former Manchester United assistant
manager Mike Phelan believes Wayne
Rooney could leave the club in
search of a new challenge.
The 27-year-old, who handed in a
transfer request last season, is
believed to be set for crunch talks
with new boss David Moyes in the
coming days, with the striker hoping to gain assurances about his
role in the first-team.
Phelan, who left United following Moyes' reshuffle of the backroom
staff, is adamant there is no better place for Rooney to ply his trade
than at Old Trafford, but admits he could seek a fresh challenge
away from the club.
"Wayne is
at the
greatest
club you
can be
at,"
Phelan
told BBC
Radio 5
Live. "Why
would you
want to
jeopardise
that?
"Unless
you want a
fresh
challenge
and you feel that challenge isn't being met at Manchester United.
"Every player is entitled to express a desire to want to move on. Any
player can do that at any time.
"In Wayne's case, in the first instance in 2010, he took a lot of
advice on that and got steered towards making that call but the
manager was terrific. He talked to him and asked why would he
want to leave the club?
"The press conference Sir Alex gave was a bit of a tear-jerker and it
was genuine. There was an element that he'd chased this boy and
paid big money. He was the boy that could change United."
Phelan expects the Red Devils to make a decision on Rooney's
future soon but admits he doesn't know whether he will stay or go.
"Somewhere down the line there will be words said, there will be
meetings and they will see if it's still alive and worth going for or
they'll call time on it," Phelan added. "He's come from a fresh-faced
17-year-old and has been under the spotlight for that time and he
has delivered. He might have hit a blip in certain performances but
he isn't the first or last player to have done that.
"You have to nurse them through it and hopefully he responds to
that. Sometimes you have to crack the whip with him. Wayne has
responded as well as he feels he can do for United, and what will
be will be - I haven't got a clue."

Rapheal ready to work

Rafael is relishing starting pre-season
training at Manchester United and
believes it gives players an
opportunity to impress new manager
David Moyes.
The Scot officially took over the reins
at Old Trafford from Sir Alex
Ferguson on 1 July, with the club's
first pre-season game on 13 July.
And following a summer of rest, Rafael cannot wait to get going
again and is prepared to put in plenty of effort to impress as United
embark on tour of Asia.
"Pre-
season is
always
good, it's
enjoyable," he told the club's official website. "I like this stage of
the year a lot. Of course, there is a lot of running! But it's good as
well because when you come back from holiday, sometimes you can
get tired from doing nothing. I feel good when I'm working.
"The pre-season tours are a big part of preparation work for the
new season. If you play well, you can put a thought in the
manager's mind and maybe change his mind if you perhaps weren't
in his plans for the first few games.
"Not only are we able to put in some hard work on the training
pitch when we're on tour, it's good to see different cultures and
different things. It's great that we're able to visit countries across
the world because we have so many fans.
The 22-year-old established himself as the club's first-choice right-
back last season and is looking forward to meeting the Red Devils
supporters from around the world.
"We are a big club and we have supporters everywhere and it's good
for us to go on tour and see them. They give us so much support
and it's great that we're able to meet some of them, especially those
who aren't able to get to Old Trafford.
"The tour is a great experience for the young players and the older
players like Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand are always really
encouraging when we're away and help us a lot. I'm sure this year's
tour will be another great trip and it's one we're all looking forward
to."