[ENGLAND] Two days after saying he wanted out, Wayne Rooney completed one of the great about-faces in the history of soccer when he signed a new five-year contract with Manchester United worth more than $65 million. “Wayne has apologized to me and to the players,” United manager Alex Ferguson said on the club’s television channel on Friday. “I’m sure he will also do so to the supporters, because that’s important.”

The move follows intense negotiations between representatives of the club and player, but the turning point apparently came when club chairman Joel Glazer and Rooney talked about the club's future and Glazer family's commitment to spent money on the transfer market to keep the club strong.

Rooney had told the club in August he wanted to leave and he could have used the new FIFA rules pegging a veteran player's transfer fee to his salary in order to force a transfer at a fraction of the price United could otherwise fetch on the transfer market.

Discussions were ongoing as angry fans protested outside Rooney's house on Thursday night, underlining the severity of Rooney's move to cut his ties with United.

 “I am sure the fans have been upset after everything they have heard, but my message is that I care for the club," Rooney said on Friday. "I just want it to continue to be successful. Some fans may not take to me again very quickly. It may take time, but I will give everything. I will give 100 percent and try to build that relationship back. I hope we can work together and try and win trophies.”