Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is eager to stop the Wayne Rooney issue from becoming a "saga".
Striker Rooney, 24, says he wants to leave the club, suggesting they lack the resources to match his ambition.
Ferguson is to meet chief executive David Gill at 1000 BST on Thursday to discuss United's next move.
But the Scot is keen to quash further Rooney talk and said: "What is really important is for us to put it to bed, we don't want it to become a saga."
Ferguson revealed in an emotional news conference on Tuesday that Rooney had told club officials on 14 August that he intended to leave Old Trafford.
That prompted a statement from the player himself on Wednesday, shortly before the club took on Bursaspor in a Champions League tie at Old Trafford.
In that response, the England international, whose contract runs out at the end of the 2011/12 season, claimed he had concerns over the squad's strength and said that Gill had not given him "any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad".
Supporters have long had concerns over the amount of debt placed on the club by US-based owners the Glazer family following their leveraged buyout in 2005.
Two weeks ago, United reported an annual pre-tax loss of £79.6m for the 12 months to 30 June - they recorded a profit of £48m for the year before.
Following a 1-0 win over Bursaspor, Ferguson faced the media again to answer yet more questions about Rooney's future.
"I've not read the whole of Rooney's statement," stated Ferguson. "I have a meeting with David Gill at 1000 BST on Thursday. David has spoken to the owners, which is important."
Ferguson added that he was keen to focus on winning matches rather than continue discussing his want-away forward.
He insisted: "Sunday's game against Stoke is the most important thing. This is a bagatelle, believe me."
When journalists continued to press him on Rooney, an irritated Ferguson responded: "I am not going on with this all night. Stop it now. It is a European game.
"You have had plenty on Tuesday. There has been plenty tonight. I am concentrating on the game. Failing that, forget it."
Rooney's comments have rocked Manchester United, with Ferguson himself admitting he was "shocked", "disappointed" and "bemused" by the striker's decision to quit the club he joined from Everton in 2004 in a £25.6m deal.
However, the Scot believes United, as a club, remain in good shape.
"We will be OK. I have every confidence," he said. "The structure of the club is good. We have the right staff, the right manager, a brilliant chief executive. There is not a thing wrong with Manchester United.
"To maintain the success at any club is not a certainty.
"I always believe a four-year cycle is the most you can achieve. Very few teams can go beyond that.
"We realised some time ago that Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville were not going to last forever. Therefore our policy is to develop footballers in their place."
He went on to tell a story from 2004 when Rooney joined the club while previous stars such as Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy were departing.
"A player said to me Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo were not good enough and he wasn't prepared to wait," recounted Ferguson.
"That is the problem with potential. People don't identify potential. We are very good at it. I have identified it all my life. I know potential. I know where it can be developed and how to develop it. I have faith in it.
"That is what this club is about. When you see Manchester United at the moment, with 14 players under 22, you don't see the Manchester United for years ahead.
"In terms of the future of Manchester United, there are a lot of things in my favour."
Rooney is currently sidelined because of an ankle injury picked up in training ahead of the game against Bursaspor.
However, Ferguson dismissed suggestions that he could be suspend his striker when he returns to fitness.
There is already speculation about possible destinations for Rooney but Ferguson expressed doubts as to whether he could find a better employer.
"Sometimes you look in a field and see a cow," he said. "You think it is a better cow than the one you see in your field. It never really works out that way.
"Some players like to think the world is better somewhere else. It never really works."
Manchester City, who signed Carlos Tevez after United decided against taking up an option to retain the Argentine, and Chelsea have been linked with a move for Rooney.
But City boss Roberto Mancini played down talk of a move for United's prize asset.
"It was different for Carlos," said the Italian. "Rooney is English and has played for United for a long time, Carlos was there for two years. That makes a difference."
