© EuroFootball.com
Ruud van Nistelrooy seems to be awaiting a cardinal change. The club promises to make a decision about the future of the most productive, but increasingly reputation-damaging player within the next 48 hours.
The 29-year-old footballer caused a scandal when, three hours before the final English Premier League match of the season, he unexpectedly left Old Trafford stadium and did not show up for the game.
It is believed that the Dutch player, who often started matches on the substitute bench this season due to poor form, behaved this way because of coach Alex Ferguson's decision not to let the striker onto the field from the start of the match this time. The strategist later stated that he chose this option due to the poor performance of the foreign player and incidents during the last few training sessions.
"Sometimes, when training the team, you have to make tough decisions," said Ferguson. "I made one of those decisions and I believe it was the best for the club.
"Last week, there were a few incidents during training that made me concerned about the team spirit. We had very important matches ahead, I wanted everyone to be together, so I decided not to include R. van Nistelrooy in the starting lineup.
"I won't say anything else about it. Everything will be discussed during a meeting with the club leaders this week."
There are already reports in the media that this meeting will be a formality for Ferguson to inform the leaders that there is no longer a place for the Dutchman, who earns 95 thousand pounds a week, in his team.
Unofficially, Van Nistelrooy himself does not intend to participate in tomorrow's farewell match for Roy Keane and has already left for the Netherlands, where he will begin preparations with the national team for the upcoming World Cup.
