Wayne Rooney documentary: Sir Alex Ferguson the only potential interviewee who turned down BBC approach

Former Manchester United manager notable by his absence

Wayne Rooney and Sir Alex Ferguson during their time together at Manchester United (GETTY IMAGES)

Sir Alex Ferguson was the only potential interviewee for the BBC's upcoming Wayne Rooney documentary who declined the opportunity to appear, signalling the depth of the rift between the pair.

Just shy of his 30th birthday, the new documentary about the Manchester United and England captain is set of offer a revealing and honest account of the striker.

It sees an A-list of football figures appear with former team-mates Cristiano Ronaldo, Steven Gerrard, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Frank Lampard, Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville among them. Former managers David Moyes, Sven Goran Eriksson and Roy Hodgson are also on hand. Even Zlatan Ibrahimovic got involved. Which makes the absence of Ferguson all the more notable.

The duo's relationship at Old Trafford deteriorated towards the end of Ferguson's reign, with the situation becoming nearly untenable when Rooney was accused of asking for a transfer by his manager. Rooney has always denied making a direct request, however, in the documentary he stops short of calling Ferguson a liar.

Wayne Rooney, left, and Gary Lineker, who presents the upcoming documentary (BBC)

Speaking in the documentary, Rooney says: “It is not just me who has had a fall-out with Alex Ferguson, many players have. Some have left, some have stayed.”

Ferguson and Rooney also had a stand-off in 2010 over a new contract which Neville says that he and Giggs persuaded Rooney to apologise for afterwards.