Real president Florentino Perez is “obsessed” with Rooney according to the club’s former president Ramon Calderon, despite the fact neither Manchester United nor their star man have given any indication a transfer is possible.
And after taking his tally for the season to 32 with the first two goals in a 3-0 win over the Cottagers at Old Trafford that took United back to the Premier League summit, Hodgson could only join the chorus of praise.
“Wayne Rooney is proving he is among the best in the world every week,” said Hodgson.
“He is scoring lots of goals in a tough league like ours. He is starring for England and is starring in the Champions League.
“Anyone doing that is a player who will be talked about and someone everyone else is going to be coveting. It is no surprise people are coveting Wayne Rooney.
“It is pointless for me to say Wayne Rooney is an excellent player because you could get that from the man in the pub.
“I just know we don’t have that kind of money.”
Rooney is now just 10 behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s staggering total from two years ago that helped crown him world player of the year.
Not that Rooney is the type to welcome any comparisons.
“If I am being honest, getting to 42 goals wouldn’t mean a lot to me,” he said. “It is not something I have looked at.
“Obviously it is nice to score goals. I want to score goals in every game and what Cristiano Ronaldo achieved was unbelievable.
“But I am a different player and a different person. I am not comparing myself to Cristiano.”
United are now two points ahead of Chelsea - who have a game in hand - and Arsenal, with eight games remaining, starting with next week’s eagerly-anticipated visit of Liverpool, and including the visit of Carlo Ancelotti’s men on April 3.
“There can only be one winner and I think it is going to be us,” said the £30.75million Bulgarian.
“Arsenal and Chelsea are great teams and we have difficult games ahead of us but the good thing is we play at home at Old Trafford against Chelsea and that will be an advantage for us.
“I am optimistic that in the end we will be champions.”
What do you think? Have your say.
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Mrs Fullaway's lodger (14/03/2010 at 17:16)
Horace Hughes, Salford (14/03/2010 at 17:52)
BALL AND BAT, ALL OVER (14/03/2010 at 18:07)
I think real will be selling as i think ronnie wished he hadnt moved now and kaka might have wished that he come to play in the premiership too as well as messi and ribery and the rest of the european top players its the best league in the world where one week you can be winning every thing the next its a 1-1 draw at burnley or a loss away at pompy.
Its unpredictable but we all love it just the way it is imagine if all the top players were in the premiership in each team wouldnt that just be some thing.
But roo has proved he is the worlds best so i feel he will emulate what ronnie did last season.
Bigmouth strikes again, Manchester (14/03/2010 at 18:15)
manc abroad, OT (14/03/2010 at 18:25)
BALL AND BAT, ALL OVER (14/03/2010 at 19:02)
Is It Me? (14/03/2010 at 19:04)
Is It Me? (14/03/2010 at 19:09)
Drago 34 (14/03/2010 at 19:24)
spooky (14/03/2010 at 19:33)
love the glazers and hate united (malcolm is barca99s dad) (14/03/2010 at 19:59)
jordy, Middleton (14/03/2010 at 20:22)
Bigmouth strikes again, Manchester (14/03/2010 at 20:37)
love the glazers and hate united (malcolm is barca99s dad).....
Ruud was sold to Fail Madrid, he won 2 league titles and 1 Cup, and he is now playing in Germany. Rooney is now being touted as the best player in the world and has won 3 league titles, 1 Champions League, 1 Fifa Club World Cup and 2 League Cups.
Heinze was sold to Fail Madrid, he won 1 league title and 1 cup. We bought a left back who is now recognised as the best left back in world football, Evra. He has won 3 league titles, 1 Champions League, 1 Fifa Club World Cup and 2 League Cups.
Beckham was sold to Fail Madrid, he won 1 league title and 1 cup. We bought Ronaldo, He won 3 league titles, 1 Champions League, 1 Fifa Club World Cup 1 FA Cup and 2 League Cups.
Ronaldo was then sold to Fail Madrid, so far he has won nothing and has been knocked out of the Champions league, and it looks like Fail will do what they always do when they Fail, sack the manager. His replacement, Valencia has already won a League Cup and will be playing in the later stages of the Champions League.
Fergie was right to sell every player he has, our trophy cabinet and achievements, and Fail's lack of trophies and achievements prove it. Fergie is the master, don't doubt him! Rooney is from the north west, all his family and friends are here. He has a baby and is totally content at United. He will retire a United legend like Giggs. End of story.
Ashley Hallows, Manchester (14/03/2010 at 21:40)
outstation, perth, australia (14/03/2010 at 21:47)
If 100 big ones was offered for Wayne Rooney, you'd bite their hands off, surely!!
United^Fan, Kuwait (14/03/2010 at 21:48)
Lee Heron (14/03/2010 at 22:05)
Brian Taylor (14/03/2010 at 22:10)
Britt/Canada (14/03/2010 at 23:09)
14/03/2010 at 19:59
You people really embarrass the North of England, football,general intelligence & your own club...you are doomed & will destroy the prospects you have been offered. Your present owners will pull out within the next two years....the rumbling as started now, you really do ---- things up for your club...
down under, australia (15/03/2010 at 00:10)
Mike Thompson (15/03/2010 at 00:19)
united will regain biggest club in world status soon & Ronnie will want to return & maybe Messi Watch this space
MIKE
Burton on Trent
Mike Thompson (15/03/2010 at 00:26)
What would be the point ? He would always be going backwards to get a kick of the ball because all possible teams he could join are boring and play to slow,
I think Ronnie will return to united and maybe some other big names too Messi Torres ? Watch this space. ps Glazers wont always be here
Mike
Burton on Trent
steve the wandering red manc, Australia (15/03/2010 at 03:26)
barca99, Salford (15/03/2010 at 07:38)
We are well used to this type of speculation anyway and it will go on through the summer as every other annual repetitive bilge from the red top tabloids does, prepare yourselves for the usual stories of which world class stars are on there way to Camp Boo and then they end up with the usual fly by nights, how this year is going to be Liverpool's year and then they end up with egg on there kites, how Chelsea are 'destined' to win the Champions League this year and of course how this year will be the Wizards last season and how United are a team in decline, its just fabricated and sensatoinalised journalism to fill the summer months when football takes a back seat, its also a way for the ABU's to laud themselves into thinking that all the best players want out of OT, the 'best' players who have left recently have really gone on to better things havent they, Ruud, Beckham, Heinze, Tevez, Stam, Ince, Kanchelskis, have really furthered there careers since departing OT, look even at Ronaldo, its OK thinking Bernabeau is better than OT but the only thing thats better is the weather, Ronaldo apart how many of Madrids team would get into the first eleven at United? None and that includes Kaka and Casillas, they may have 'better' players in a technical sense but in the sense of team players none would get in.
I'm just like Stewie Griffin, Fictional Quahog, Rhode Island (15/03/2010 at 08:03)
Besides, as many have already stated here, Wayne's one of us. Just an ordinary bloke with an extraordinary talent. I don't think he needs the posing and glamourising like many others we can mention.
If he did go, Fergie would just produce another talent out of his hat. He turns average players into good players, good players into great players and great players into something very special.
Real screwed up and could have saved a fortune if they'd signed our greatest talent of all.........................FERGIE!!!!