Manchester United chiefs accept Wayne Rooney's version of events when he denies demanding a transfer in talks with retired manager Sir Alex Ferguson. The Mail on Sunday says Rooney's fall-out with Ferguson came at a meeting last month, which prompted the former United manager to claim that Rooney had asked to leave after nine years at Old Trafford.

But that meeting has now been described by sources as more an exchange between a frustrated player and his manager, in which Rooney expressed his exasperation at being dropped and frequently substituted.

Having received little encouragement from Ferguson, Rooney is said to have suggested that if he were not going to be played then he might as well be sold.

It is understood that while Sir Alex might have regarded such a statement as tantamount to requesting a transfer, there was no formal communication asking for a move and that it was a statement made in the heat of the moment, driven by Rooney's desire to play more.

The club now accept that Rooney has never submitted a formal transfer request.