" IF YOU JOIN CITY YOU'RE DEAD "

Balaclava-clad group target striker's house as Evra says team-mate should not play for club again


Meanwhile .... way across town at Wayne Manor ...........

THE LOCALS ARE RESTLESS

The mob were presumably demonstrating ' the respect ' that Ferguson has been talking about to the press in recent days. Wayne Rooney was visited at his home in Cheshire last night by militant Manchester United fans who carried a banner that read "Join City and you will die" – the latest twist in the saga that has followed the player's shock decision not to sign a new contract at the club.

United are aware of the growing swell of opinion against Rooney from supporters and the player is said to have been dismayed, though not entirely surprised, by the reaction at yesterday's match. The depth of anger against Rooney manifested itself during the game against Bursaspor when supporters held up banners castigating his behaviour.

The demonstration at his house had a much more sinister edge. In 2005 Rio Ferdinand faced a similar visit from a mob of balaclava-wearing men dressed predominantly in black, because of a 16-month contract dispute during which he had been photographed with the then Chelsea chief executive, Peter Kenyon.

Wayne Rooney - " I am not an animal "

Ferdinand went to his front door to confront the fans and answer their questions during a tense standoff, the defender admitting in his autobiography that he had feared for his own safety. The same people are believed to have been involved last night in what seems to amount to a determined attempt to intimidate Rooney out of a move to Eastlands. There was no direct confrontation, however, at the house. Police were called to the address at around 8.30pm although no arrests were made.

Rooney has also put himself in a difficult position with several team-mates with his statement that the main reason he wanted to leave was because of his concerns that United might not be in a position to challenge regularly for trophies. The clear implication of his behaviour is that he believes United are in danger of slipping behind more powerful spenders, specifically Chelsea and Manchester City, as well as major forces in Europe such as Milan, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

The incident outside Rooney's home came after his team-mate Patrice Evra said that the striker should be frozen out at United over his public declaration that the club have not signed players who can make them competitive. Evra said: "If one player does not trust the other players, that player should not play. I am not like that as I trust everyone and I know we can win."

Rooney's former team-mate Carlos Tevez added fuel to the fire last night, with those close to the player suggesting that he told Manchester City's owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan that "with Wayne we will win everything". Ferguson has cancelled his Friday press conference today – for the fourth successive week.