Manchester United could be forced into selling Wayne Rooney over a row between the England striker and the club’s manager Sir Alex Ferguson, a series of U.K. newspapers reported on Monday.

According to a report in The Guardian, Rooney, who has 20 months left on his existing contract, has told United that he will not sign a new deal with the club.

Revelations about Rooney’s private life appear to have coincided with a falling-out with Ferguson, The Guardian said.

The United manager left Rooney out of a number of matches, claiming that the 24-year-old was struggling with a supposed ankle injury.

But last week Rooney said he had not been suffering from any injury and that he had not missed any training sessions, meaning he was in effect, dropped.

Suspicions remain that the news could just be a ploy to get improved terms on any new deal, but The Guardian said Rooney has made up his mind to leave.

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester City are thought most likely to be interested in a player who cost United 30 million pounds (48 million dollars) six years ago, but who has been out of form recently.