Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson launched a thinly veiled attack Sunday on star striker Wayne Rooney’s agent, saying that there is “no problem with players” when it comes to negotiating new contracts.

The Manchester United manager finished one of the most trying weeks of his 24-year tenure with a 2-1 victory away to Stoke City when Javier Hernandez, the Mexico forward, scored both goals.

After a tumultuous week in which Rooney had a statement issued in his name asking to leave Old Trafford, the England striker agreed to sign a new five-year deal to stay with United.

As Rooney, out with an ankle injury, was granted leave on his 25th birthday to go to Dubai with his wife Coleen, his manager turned on the man who orchestrated his star player’s contract negotiations so publicly — Paul Stretford.

“It is always tough at United,” Ferguson said. “There are always issues to deal with. When your top players come towards the end of their contracts you have to do something to get them a new one.

“You have to deal with agents of this world today, which is difficult. The players are no problem, but some agents are difficult.”