Roo’s Dubai confession: I was never going to leave Utd

Wayne Rooney was quoted by British tabloids as last night telling a Manchester United fan at the Burj Al Arab that he was never going to leave the club.

The Sun reported that the 25-year-old striker broke his silence when an angry Red Devils fan confronted him in the lobby.

The supporter is said to have asked Rooney: "Do you feel you've let down United fans?"

The footballer is reported to have replied: "No."

He then explained he had no intention of ever leaving Old Trafford, despite days of turmoil over rumoured moves to rivals Man City or Real Madrid after he said United lacked ambition.

It suggests his management team, led by agent Paul Stretford, stoked up the furore which ended in him staying at United on £250,000-a-week.

It was the first time the England ace had revealed his feelings over the row in which, at one point, he vowed to quit United.

Earlier Roo and his wife tried to patch up their steak house spat in a series of strained poolside chats.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail claimed that a sunburnt Wayne looked like he was struggling for the attentions of his wife Coleen yesterday.

Earlier yesterday, they had sat in stony silence while grim-faced Rooney, 25, sipped at a £15 non-alcoholic cocktail.

Signs of strain were clear to see yesterday as despondent Rooney sat alone, his head down and his legs wrapped in a hotel towel. He appeared pale and pasty, despite the 35C heat, while his wife topped up her golden tan.

His wife soaked up the sun in a black bikini, until eventually Rooney swam alongside her and stood chest-high in the water to break the uncomfortable silence.

While he relaxed beside the pool, his team beat Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford in the Carling Cup.