Wayne Rooney almost left Manchester United for Chelsea…
Sir Alex Ferguson and Wayne Rooney have buried the hatchet, with Rooney finally revealing the reason he almost left Manchester United after a bust-up with his former boss.
SEE ALSO:
Best teenagers in world football
Best Premier League players 2014/15
Greatest football team of all time! Check out the best XI of the 21st Century
Reports in the Daily Mail explain that the relationship between the two men deteriorated in Ferguson’s final season in charge after United brought in Robin van Persie from Arsenal and played Rooney out of position.
The source adds that it came to a head when the England striker was sensationally axed for a vital Champions League tie against Real Madrid and subsequently told Ferguson that he felt his future lay away from Old Trafford.
Rooney was also angered by Ferguson openly admitting that United had been offered around £30m for him by Chelsea. The England international subsequently performer a u-turn on his desire to leave and signed a new long-term contract worth £300,000-per-week.
He is now captain for club and country, and is celebrating a decade at Old Trafford under new manager Louis van Gaal. With the former Everton man having now moved on, he has moved to thank Ferguson for the pivotal role he played in his career.
“He was vitally important,” Rooney told MUTV in an interview to mark his 10 years at the club. “I’m grateful to him for having the faith to bring me in from Everton. I think he’s an incredible person and manager, the way you see his desire for the game. He certainly helped me a lot and helped us all.
“At the time I was coming into the squad as a young lad and there were a few other young lads. He brought all that together and made us world (club) champions. I’m very grateful for everything he’s done.”
SEE ALSO: The Best Manchester United players of all time
COMMENTS