Wayne Rooney and Man Utd can focus on going forward now the striker has agreed terms, says Andy Gray.
'Rooney and United can go forward, but will fans forgive striker?'
Wayne Rooney had to decide his future one way or another as soon as possible before it consumed Manchester United and wrecked any chance he had of finishing his career at Old Trafford.
The longer the uncertainty went on and the more statements and counter-statements that came out, the more excuses the United players would have had for not performing and underachieving.
The club had to put the situation to bed and it now appears they have with Wayne agreeing a new five-year deal.
Ambition
I don't think anyone can accuse Manchester United of lacking ambition. Wayne intimated that earlier this week, which was wrong of him, because United are more ambitious than most clubs in world football.
It appears as if Wayne will now stay at what is one of the best, if not the biggest and best club in the world where the fans love him - even though this week he's done his best to destroy that love.
If David Gill had been able to say to Wayne earlier this week that 'we are actively pursuing five high-quality players and hope to bring at least three of them in', then I'm sure Wayne would have been more than happy with the situation, particularly with the young kids that are coming through as well.
I'm not saying David should have told Wayne who those top-quality players are because it's none of his business. Let's face it, Alex Ferguson hasn't done a bad job of managing Wayne over the last six years and helping Wayne win trophies galore, so there should be a good level of trust there.
But initially Wayne told us this week that he was not given assurances that satisfied him - plus he may have had his doubts over how long Sir Alex was going to stay.
It may be that Wayne was concerned about who will eventually come in after Sir Alex goes. If he was being asked to commit himself to another five years at the club - five years that could potentially be the best of his career - but he wasn't sure who will be in charge; if that's so, then I can understand his reticence a little better from a player's point of view.
He might well have looked around the dressing room at the likes of Rafael, Smalling and Anderson and wonder if they are the Neville, Ferdinand and Giggs of the future; he knows them better than I do but who knows, they might actually turn out to be better!
This United squad isn't as strong as in previous years but that's down to a lack of experience in the squad - and perhaps not as much strength in depth as there should be - rather than a lack of potential. The Rafaels and Gibsons of this world simply need more games at the highest level to prove whether they are going to be any good.
But if Wayne had gone to Manchester City, was there any guarantee that he would have won a trophy? There isn't one. If he went to Chelsea? He might have a better chance - but there's still no guarantee. If he went to Real Madrid? Barcelona? No team can guarantee a player trophies, not even United, and Wayne must have had that in mind when he came to his decision.
I can't believe that Wayne has alienated the whole squad this week - all of the players that thought the world of Wayne still will. They will realise very quickly that if they are going to win more trophies than they are better off having him in their team than not.
The fans might be different - I'm sure there will be more than one or two upset at what has transpired this week. But I think most will fall back in line and get behind him sooner rather than later.
Power
The way footballers' contracts are handled now, it's increasingly likely that we will see more of these stand-offs developing, particularly if contracts are allowed to run down to the extent that Wayne's has.
This is the state of affairs that evolves when you give players this much power to go with too much money - the combination can make them ruthless. They have the leverage to dictate to clubs where and when they go and the clubs are left powerless to do anything about it.
The balance of power has tipped too far in the players' favour now; I don't think there's a doubt about that.
Certainly when I played the power was too much in the club's control. You could be left in the reserves and left there to rot for four or five years with no way out until the club decided to sell you.
Fortunately, that has changed, but I do agree with Ian Holloway that the pendulum has swung too far the other way; it's time to try and find more of a half-way house.
I played at a time when agents were just coming into football, so I arranged most of my own contracts with an agent's help. It was a joint venture.
An agent can have a massive influence on a player particularly if they become very close friends, as is the case I think with Wayne and Paul Stretford. Paul's looked after him for the best part of six years now, and he is also Coleen's agent too.
But I still think that if I was a footballer today, my agent wouldn't tell me where I should go - I would decide that myself and I hope Wayne's made his own choice for all the right reasons.
