Jose Mourinho believes Sir Alex Ferguson will talk Wayne Rooney into staying at Manchester United.
While Sir Alex Ferguson is finalising his plans for a response to the eruption around Rooney, which is expected to be delivered tomorrow, Mourinho has offered his own thoughts.
As one of the men tipped to replace Ferguson when the Scot eventually calls time on his United career, and more importantly, manager of one of the few clubs who could realistically afford the 24-year-old, Mourinho's comments do carry some weight.
And while the Real Madrid coach opted not to get into any deep discussion about Rooney ahead of his side's Champions League encounter with AC Milan at the Bernabeu Stadium on Tuesday night, he suggested Ferguson could yet patch things up with his star striker.
"I don't think he will (become available)," he said.
"I think the big man will persuade him to stay."
Thus far, Ferguson has kept his own counsel, although he looked relaxed as he attended a £1million extension of United's charitable work for UNICEF at Old Trafford this afternoon.
He left Old Trafford before any of his own thoughts on Rooney could be offered.
Behind the scenes however, work is under way to try and fashion some kind of response to a situation United's insiders admit has caught them by surprise, if only because of the manner of it.
Even on Monday, suggestions of high-level conversations involving United officials gave rise to the idea Rooney was being persuaded to sign a new contract, even though he has told United he will not do so when his current deal expires in 2012.
But Press Association Sport understands this is not the case and the entire stand-off remains exactly as it was on Sunday, when it became apparent exactly how fractured the relationship between Rooney and Ferguson has become.
Ferguson will doubtless be questioned on the issue on Tuesday when he is due to attend a press conference ahead of United's Champions League encounter with Turkish champions Bursaspor.
Chief executive David Gill at least hinted some clarification of the Rooney situation would eventually be made.
"We will say something at an appropriate time. But this is not an appropriate time," he said.
There has been some conjecture Rooney's advisors have come up with an elaborate plan to try and force more money out of United, having been unimpressed with a contract offer that was due to be negotiated immediately after his post-World Cup break.
But Rooney's grievances appear genuine and deep-rooted, possibly extending beyond the manner with which Ferguson has dealt with the issues over his player's personal life.
The United manager is thought to be unimpressed at Rooney's behaviour, just as the player is thought to be not too pleased at his club's recent recruitment policy.
Ferguson does have the option of keeping the former Everton star until his contract expires in 2012.
That would effectively mean waving goodbye to a transfer fee that might be sizeable in January but would fall by the end of the season and then evaporate completely within 12 months.
United's problem is that if Rooney's departure is sanctioned, the list of clubs across Europe who could realistically afford a player who cost £27million when he arrived from Everton in 2004 and scored 34 goals last season before injury curtailed his campaign, is pretty short.
Barcelona are said to be trying to trim back their outgoings, and Real Madrid invested heavily this summer.
Italy is not exactly awash with money, whilst Bayern Munich spent considerable amounts last summer building a squad to suit Louis van Gaal.
Unless a player exchange deal involving someone like Karim Benzema or Franck Ribery could be arranged, Rooney's options abroad are limited, while in England, only Chelsea or Manchester City would stump up the wages required to secure the forward's services.
The mere mention of City's name would send a shudder down the Old Trafford faithful, who realise what a positive impact Carlos Tevez has had since his own move across town to Eastlands.
At a time when they appear vulnerable after registering five draws in their opening eight games, United would resist that move with vigour.
