Soccer: Death threat against Rooney

As Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney mulls his future options - which almost certainly involve a move to another Premier League club - things have taken a sinister turn at the football star's own house.

A forty-strong group of United supporters, many wearing balaclavas and hooded tops, travelled to his home town of Wilmslow in Cheshire to warn him off any move to Manchester City, the Guardian reported today.

Witnesses reported a gathering outside his house, with a banner reading "If you join City you're dead".

The incident occurred a couple of hours after United released a statement confirming they had spent the day discussing Rooney's future.

The depth of anger against Rooney could be seen during yesterday's Champions League match against Turkish side Bursaspor, when supporters held up banners criticising his behaviour.

The demonstration at his house had a much more sinister edge.

And it recalled a similar incident five years ago involving another United star.

In 2005, the Guardian went on to say, Rio Ferdinand faced a visit from a mob of balaclava-wearing men dressed predominantly in black.

The apparent reason? Ferdinand had been photographed talking with the then Chelsea chief executive, Peter Kenyon.

When Ferdinand went to his front door to confront the fans and answer their questions, a tense standoff followed.

In his autobiography, the defender admitted that he had feared for his own safety.

The same people are believed to have been involved this morning (NZ time) in what seems to amount to a determined attempt to intimidate Rooney out of a move to City, the Guardian reported.

There was no direct confrontation, however, at the house.