The England striker is understood to be “angry and confused” at David Moyes’ recent comments which suggested he would remain a back-up option to Robin van Persie

Sources close to the striker have made it known that he is “angry and confused” by comments made by United manager David Moyes suggesting he is second choice to Robin van Persie.

Rooney, who has left United’s pre-season tour of Australia and the Far East with a hamstring injury, is fuming with the Scot and feels there is no way back for him at Old Trafford.

“Overall, my thought on Wayne is that if for any reason we had an injury to Robin van Persie we are going to need him,” said Moyes over the weekend. “I want as many options as possible.”

Rooney has expressed his anger to United’s hierarchy and the 27-year-old remains convinced he has no future at United, as revealed by Goal in May, with Chelsea and Arsenal competing for his signature.

The conflict between Rooney and United is set to become even more heated in the coming weeks, with the player yet to submit a written transfer request.

United’s official position is that Rooney will not be sold, but Moyes’ comments are regarded as a calculated move to undermine the England star, who has two years left on his contract and feels he is at the peak of his career after nine years at Old Trafford.

Rooney is understood to have been further angered by Ed Woodward, United’s new chief executive, who has revealed the club will not offer him a new deal and are prepared to let him run down his contract.

Woodward said: “There are no contract renewals that are being discussed. I am not sitting down with any player on an extension and there is no trigger date in the diary.

“Would we be afraid to run a contract down? Of course not.”

Rooney has grown increasingly frustrated with his downgraded status at Old Trafford, which culminated in him being dropped for United’s biggest game of the season, the last-16 Champions League second round tie against Real Madrid.

Contrary to reports that Rooney’s relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson is central to his desire to quit the club he joined in 2004, sources have said that the striker is also opposed to working under Moyes, who was his first manager in professional football and with whom he had a bitter fall-out following his departure from Everton.

According to Goal