Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke has encouraged the club's supporters not to jeer Wayne Rooney during this evening's Premier League trophy parade in the city.
Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed yesterday that 27-year-old Rooney had handed in his second transfer request in three years and consequently his presence at the start of today's event was met by boos from some of the United faithful.
However, Yorke believes that the England international deserves more respect for what he has contributed down the years and went even further by admitting that he hopes that new manager David Moyes can convince him to stay at Old Trafford.
"I am surprised. What's come out is that Wayne Rooney is going to be leaving the football club, or he has put in a transfer request - that's never going to go down well," he told Sky Sports News. "But in terms of what Wayne Rooney has done for this football club, for nine years, he's been one of our best players. He's scored so many goals and won so many matches.
"It is a very harsh crowd in terms of where Wayne Rooney is concerned. Let's hope that he gets a really good reception because he is still a Manchester United player - he has not left the football club.
"The job is for David Moyes to come in and convince Wayne Rooney to stay and let's hope that crowd really get beyond the boys and not boo Wayne Rooney. As I said, he has been terrific throughout the years that he has been at the club."
A number of clubs have been linked with Rooney's services, including Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
Liam Apicella
