Alex Ferguson to face questions on Wayne Rooney future

Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to face questions over Wayne Rooney's Manchester United future on Tuesday.Rumours persist that the 24-year-old England striker could be set to leave Old Trafford amid reports that talks over a new contract have broken down.United boss Ferguson will speak to the media at 1400 BST ahead of Wednesday's Champions League game with Bursaspor. Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has brushed off speculation the Blues might be interested in signing Rooney. "I can't really give an answer about this," said the Italian."He has some problem but when a big team has top players like Rooney, they want to keep him in the squad."Ahead of Chelsea's Champions League match against Spartak Moscow in Russia on Tuesday, Ancelotti was asked several times if the Blues would bid for Rooney in the January transfer window but the Italian refused to be drawn on the matter."If you want to know what players Chelsea want to buy and how much money they want to spend on players you should ask Roman directly," he added, referring to the club's billionaire owner, Roman Abramovich. Newspapers and websites are crammed with speculation about Rooney's future. United chief executive David Gill has promised to give the media a "statement at the appropriate time". And Ferguson, who is yet to speak publicly about the situation with Rooney, is expected to be asked about the striker at Tuesday's usual pre-Champions League press conference ahead of the home match with Turkish champions Bursaspor on Wednesday.Manchester City and Real Madrid have also been linked with Rooney, although the Spanish club's coach Jose Mourinho predicted the striker would stay at Old Trafford."I don't think he will leave," stated Mourinho, ahead of Real's Champions League match with AC Milan. "I think Ferguson will persuade him to stay." Earlier on Monday, Real director general Jorge Valdano also appeared to quash speculation of an imminent move for Rooney, who has not scored for United from open play since March - although he did not rule out one in the summer. He told Telemadrid: "The question is, who would we move aside if we signed another striker? In January, there will be neither ins nor outs. June is a long way away."Meanwhile, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has suggested Rooney should concentrate on looking after himself. "Players and managers fall out all the time. It is part of life," said the Ipswich manager, whose Old Trafford playing career was ended in four lines of appreciative quotes from his manager in November 2005. "If I was to offer advice to Wayne, who is a good lad, I would tell him to make sure he looks after number one. "Players are pieces of meat - that's how I look at it. When your time's up, your time's up." Like Mourinho, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger also predicted Rooney would remain at Old Trafford. "I am convinced he will stay at Manchester United because it is his club. They have the power to keep him and I don't believe in the story," he added. Real's arch-rivals Barcelona are also rumoured to be interested in Rooney, whose value is likely to drop as his contract nears expiration. The England striker's relationship with Ferguson has been under scrutiny in recent weeks. Rooney missed United's Premier League fixture at Everton in September after allegations about his private life and he was then left out of subsequent games by Ferguson, who claimed the England international had an ankle injury. However, last Tuesday, after England's 0-0 draw against Montenegro in a Euro 2010 qualifier at Wembley, Rooney contradicted the Scot's statement and insisted he was fit and had not had any ankle problem. On Saturday Rooney, who has scored only one goal in five Premier League appearances for United this season, was left out of the starting line-up for the 2-2 draw with West Brom. Ferguson brought his striker on with 20 minutes remaining, after United had squandered a two-goal lead, and asked him to play on the left wing."