The England international reveals why that transfer request was submitted.
It might seem like a distant memory now, but there was a distinct possibility that Wayne Rooney would leave Manchester United this summer.
Now retired manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed on the last day of the 2012/13 season that the 27-year-old had handed in a transfer request, which triggered months of pursuit from Chelsea.
With Jose Mourinho back at the helm at Stamford Bridge, the Blues submitted two offers for Rooney – first £23m and then £25m – which were both rejected, before the Portuguese ace tried to tempt the forward to go public with the desire to leave.
United weren’t budging though and the issues with the Englishman were dealt with behind closed doors; so well in fact that when deadline day came around on September 2 the saga had all but been forgotten.
Whilst Rooney’s superb form this term has helped Red Devils fans get over the fact their star man wanted to go, there was still the niggling question as to why.
“Everyone at the club knew where I wanted to play and I think that’s why I was disappointed,” the England international was quoted by the Guardian.
“I got told to play in midfield and I didn’t want to. I just think there had to come a point when, for my own career, I had to be a bit selfish really.
“I didn’t want to come out saying anything. I just wanted to concentrate on my football. That’s what I’ve done and that’s what I’ll continue to do.
“I’m not going to go around saying: ‘I wanted to stay’ or ‘I wanted to leave’. I’ll concentrate on my football and see what happens after that.”
Rooney will be vital to the Three Lions’ chance of qualifying for the World Cup in Brazil next summer, with crucial matches with Montenegro and Poland coming up in the next six days.
Both United manager David Moyes and national boss Roy Hodgson will be hoping football is the only thing on the attacker’s mind for the foreseeable future.
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