Rooney says Ferguson knew where United were headed and got out ASAP

Add as preferred source on Google

A documentary about Wayne Rooney’s career with Everton, Manchester United and England was released on Amazon Prime today.

It is a reminder of just how good the man who went on to become United and England’s all-time record goalscorer was in his prime.

Rooney also spoke about the time in 2010 that he tried to engineer an exit from Old Trafford because he was concerned about the direction of the club.

The striker eventually did a U-Turn but said in the show (1hr 35mins) that Sir Alex Ferguson could see the same issues developing in terms of recruitment and prolonged ambition.

Rooney said he went in to see Ferguson in his office to ask about the direction of the club and was promptly shut down.

But of that encounter, he said: “Actually, if you look five years down the line from that meeting, Alex Ferguson knew where the club was going.

“He got out of there as quick as he could. They’re still picking up the pieces now.”

Gary Neville added: “That took real courage to ask the manager who you’re signing or ‘I’m off’. He had the personality and character to do it because he was such a great player and they had that edge.”

Rooney is talking about the 2009 transfer window, where Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez were sold to Real Madrid and Manchester City respectively.

The club’s response was to sign Michael Owen on a free transfer and give him the number 7 shirt, buying Antonio Valencia from Wigan, and Gabriel Obertan from Bordeaux.

Ferguson went on to win two more titles by the time he retired but it was clear for all to see that the Scot was not building another great squad capable of challenging on all fronts.

United were already muddling through by the time of Ferguson’s retirement, hamstrung by a lack of investment from the Glazers and relying on the legendary manager to get them over the line.

Journalist Jonathan Norcroft also makes the observation that the things Rooney went to complain to Ferguson about are still issues United fans bemoan now, and it is hard to disagree.

• Bruno Fernandes claims Serie A legend ‘taught’ him how to perfectly ‘hit the ball’ better than any other player
• Ex-Man Utd star Fred hits out at transfer reports with sharp message, “Are you really…”
• Lisandro Martinez thinks new Man Utd transfer target has ‘absolutely everything’
• Man Utd icon Wayne Rooney says there must be ‘reasons’ why Michael Carrick’s in-form man is not World Cup bound
• Fabrizio Romano shares new Mateus Fernandes price tag for Man Utd after club meeting