SHELL-SHOCKED Sir Alex Ferguson has accused Wayne Rooney of failing to respect Manchester United.

Exactly a week after Rooney blew his relationship with Ferguson wide open, the United boss has responded in the most damning manner.

In a monologue that lasted exactly six minutes and 33 seconds at the end of a press conference to preview this evening’s Champions League encounter with Bursaspor, and an interview with MUTV that had been conducted approximately half an hour earlier, which took the Rooney camp completely by surprise, Ferguson confirmed the 24- year-old had asked to leave Old Trafford but declared “the door was still open” for him to stay.

A sarcastic conclusion would be that the door is only open because Ferguson smashed it shut so hard it bounced off its hinges.

Ferguson will have put every major European club on red alert, including Manchester City, who have more cash than anyone and know just how audacious a move for Rooney would be.

Everton are also going to be interested observers considering they stand to pocket 25 per cent of any transfer fee United receive, above the £27m sum they initially spent to buy the player in 2004.

Ferguson is not the type to open his heart. Yet that is how it seemed as he tried to draw conclusions from the complete U-turn Rooney’s career path has taken since he announced last spring his intention to remain with United for life.

The Scot’s assessment did not make pretty reading for a player who celebrates his 25th birthday on Saturday and whose private life is mired in controversy amid lurid allegations that came to light in September.

“I was in the office on August 14 and (chief executive) David (Gill) phoned me,” outlined Ferguson.

“He had got a phone call from his agent saying that he (Rooney) wasn’t signing a contract.

“I couldn’t believe it. I just was dumbfounded. I could not understand it because only months before he was saying he was at the greatest club in the world and he wanted to stay for life.

“We just don’t know what’s changed the boy’s mind.

“The next step was going to be important, decisive for us.

“I then asked to have a meeting with the boy and he reiterated what his agent had said – he wanted to go.

“The one thing I said was ‘Just remember one thing: respect this club. I don’t want any nonsense from you. Respect the club’.

“I don’t know if he’s done that. I have got doubts on that because we’re reading things about falling out with me and all that nonsense. It’s disappointing because we have done everything we possibly can to help Wayne Rooney from the minute he’s come to the club.’’ It is quite extraordinary such news remained secret until Sunday.

Also somewhat surprising is the fact United did not try to cash in before the transfer window closed on August 31 given Rooney now only has 20 months on his present deal left to run.

On days such as this though, Ferguson stands on his own on centre stage and, without mentioning him by name, criticising the influence of Rooney’s long-time adviser Paul Stretford.

“With the modern-day players it is not as easy as it was many years ago,” he said.

“Then the player would trust and depend on the manager.

You also had more contact with parents.

“But that has gone now. It is dealing with agents who live in the pockets of players.

It’s a pity.”

It is from that position Ferguson is insisting the door is still open.

The chances of Rooney walking through it, even before he was amazingly strechered off United’s Carrington training ground with an ankle injury yesterday – the injury that started the whole explosion a week ago – appear slim, with a January exit rated most likely.

WHERE WILL WAYNE GO?

With Rooney possibly on his way out of Manchester United, his next club is sure to be a hot topic. But there are only a small number of clubs who have the cash and the status to tempt a player of his calibre.

MANCHESTER CITY

A SHORT taxi ride to Eastlands would be the easiest move for Rooney from a lifestyle point of view and there is no doubt about City’s financial resources or their on-field aspirations.

They could afford a transfer fee and would be ready to double the player’s wages in a heartbeat. But the fans’ furore over Carlos Tevez’s move will look like a minor skirmish compared to the reaction of a deal for Rooney.

CHELSEA

BOSS Carlo Ancelotti would be amenable to a move for Rooney.

Although there has been a sharp move away from the megamoney transfers that characterised Roman Abramovich’s early years at Stamford Bridge, the Russian billionaire could be persuaded to loosen the purse strings for a player of Rooney’s standing.

Didier Drogba is probably unassailable as the team’s leader of the line, but Rooney would work well as a deeperlying partner to the Ivorian.

BARCELONA

BARCA have put together perhaps the most envied group of footballers on the planet and would be remiss not consider the possible effect of adding Rooney to their collection.

Nevertheless, they may ultimately decide their current crop of ball-playing forwards do not require another competitor.

Indeed, Rooney’s all action style may not sit easily with the Catalan side’s approach.

REAL MADRID

REAL have history of taking United’s wantaway stars in return for bundles of cash – that was the escape clause used by both David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo – and the club’s powerbrokers would surely see Rooney as their next Galactico. Money is always available when a global star is up for grabs.

LIVERPOOL

RANK outsiders due to Rooney’s Everton heritage but in Fernando Torres the Reds have their own off-colour international star. An exchange deal would be a fascinating – if highly unlikely – possibility, but both players look in need of a change of scenery and new Liverpool owners NESV are looking to make a statement in the transfer marker.