Wayne Rooney, legend of Manchester United, has confirmed the three clubs who pursued him when he asked him at the height of his powers in 2010.
Rooney had seen how United Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez had lost without properly investing in the team – Antonio Valencia from Wigan Athletic was the most expensive acquisition in 2009 or 2010, which questioned him to ambitious the club.
He submitted a transfer request that Sir Alex Ferguson surprisingly confirmed in a press conference in October 2010. Just a few days after this public explanation, Rooney shocked the world again by signing a new five -year contract, but the discussions with three clubs had taken place.
Contrary to the conviction at the time, a newly wealthy city of Manchester did not belong among them.
“When I said Manchester United 2010 that I did not sign a new deal and made a transfer request, three clubs came for me,” Rooney revealed in one BBC Sport Split.
“Manchester City is often spoken as one of them, but I don’t think [Madrid] and Barcelona. I was ready to go in my head and play in Spain and some discussions took place.
“A deal with real looked more likely for a few days, but it was Barcelona, about whom I was the most, and how I could fit in addition to Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Sergio Busquets. In the end I decided to stay with United, but Barca had an incredible team at the time, and every player would have loved it.”
United lost the Champions League final in 2009 against Barcelona and met her again in 2011, playing Wembley Platz with a 3-1 defeat, even though Rooney scored a goal himself.
Rooney stayed with United for a total of seven years and also became a club captain in 2014. At the beginning of 2017, he broke Sir Bobby Charlton’s long -standing record as a leading goal scorer, while he also remains fifth place on the list of appearances ever.