In a bombshell revelation that will send shockwaves through the football world, Wayne Rooney has confessed he came within hours of completing a sensational move to Manchester City instead of remaining at Manchester United.
The Old Trafford legend, United's all-time record goalscorer, made the stunning admission during an exclusive interview, detailing how his potential £50 million transfer to the blue side of Manchester was moments from being finalized in 2012.
The Transfer That Nearly Shattered United Hearts
Rooney disclosed that negotiations with Manchester City had advanced so significantly that medical arrangements were being coordinated before he ultimately decided to remain at Old Trafford. "It was close," Rooney revealed. "Very close. I think there was a option of me going to City."
The former England captain described how the potential move unfolded during a period of uncertainty about his United future, with City ready to capitalize on the situation with a massive offer that would have made him one of the highest-paid players in the Premier League.
Ferguson's Role in Dramatic U-Turn
Rooney credited legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson with playing a pivotal role in convincing him to stay at the club where he would eventually become their greatest ever goalscorer. The intervention came at the eleventh hour, preventing what would have been one of the most controversial transfers in English football history.
"There was a bit of toing and froing with that," Rooney explained, acknowledging the delicate nature of the negotiations that nearly saw him follow in the footsteps of Carlos Tevez, who made the same controversial switch between the Manchester rivals.
Legacy Defining Moment
Had the transfer been completed, Rooney's legacy would have been dramatically different. Instead of becoming United's record goalscorer with 253 goals, he would have joined their bitter rivals during a period of increasing City dominance following their 2012 Premier League title win.
The confession provides fascinating insight into one of modern football's greatest what-if scenarios, offering supporters of both clubs ample material for alternative history discussions about how different the Premier League landscape might have looked.
Rooney, now managing Derby County, reflected on how his decision to stay ultimately shaped his career and cemented his status as a United legend rather than becoming the most high-profile defection between the two rival clubs.
