The time is right for Manchester United to sell disruptive Rooney

The England striker is still keen on an Old Trafford exit, while Gareth Bale is playing catch-up in Madrid and Roy Hodgson faces a defining night on Tuesday

Sir Alex Ferguson used to follow the simple rule that no player is ever bigger than the club - and Manchester United should take their former boss' lead as the next Wayne Rooney saga threatens to unfold.

Goal revealed on Friday that Rooney had refused to open talks over a new United contract - his current deal expires in 2014 - before we reported on Friday that Arsenal have been encouraged to bid for the striker.

Rooney has been in outstanding form this season but how much longer can he be allowed to take United for a ride?

Ed Woodward and David Moyes made their point in the summer by refusing to sell the 27-year-old to Chelsea but now they must start planning for the star's departure.

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ROONEY'S SEASON SO FAR
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Rooney has already sought a move away from Old Trafford twice and, by refusing to even talk about a new deal, is backing United into a corner.

In the long term, they would be better off without him and the increasingly disruptive influence of his agent, Paul Stretford, a former vacuum cleaner salesman whose relationship with United is strained, to say the least.

Rooney is eager for a new challenge at an established Champions League club and his ego requires that he is afforded the status of the team's principal centre forward, having played second fiddle to Robin van Persie since the Dutchman's arrival in 2012.

Stretford, for his part, wants his own payday and Jose Mourinho strongly suggested that the agent had been in touch with Chelsea over the summer to encourage the Londoners to bid for his client.

Rooney has scored five goals in seven appearances this season and his outstanding form prompted United's attempts to engage in contract talks, with 18 months left on his £250,000-a-week (€295,000) deal, but they should now stop indulging both Rooney and Stretford and move on. Roy Keane, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and many others have left United in the past and the Premier League titles kept rolling in.

Whether it is in January or next summer, United will be better off without Rooney and his baggage.

Ferguson was fed up of the forward's lack of professionalism and believed that the former Everton man only had a couple of years left at the top, in any case.

The Scot made his fare share of big calls during 26 years in charge at Old Trafford and very few were wrong. United should follow his example, forget about offering Rooney a new contract and cut their losses as soon as possible.