Oh the irony of the comments from Wayne Rooney about how the arrival of Robin van Persie at Manchester United in August last year had fueled his desire to leave Old Trafford.
Talking publicly for the first time since he tried to orchestrate a move to Chelsea this summer, Rooney said that he wanted to leave because Fergie kept playing him out of position in midfield.
“I actually felt when I played in midfield I did OK but I didn’t want to play there,” Rooney said.
“I’ve had no problem in the past playing out of position. But I felt I deserved the right to play in my position and that wasn’t happening.
“I think, naturally, I was a bit disappointed and maybe that affected some of the games I played.
“I know myself that last year wasn’t my best season but there were times when I was playing in different positions.
“I didn’t feel I got a consistent run of games up front. Sometimes when you’re not playing in one position all the time it’s difficult to adapt.”
Rooney said he was happy with United’s decision not to sell him to Chelsea due to the fact it would strengthen a title rival.
“I’m sure the club made that clear,” Rooney said, of United’s refusal to sell.
“Obviously there’s been a lot of stuff happening and everyone has been waiting for me to say something but I’ve spoken to the people who matter at the club and we’ve known ourselves what was going on.
“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.”
The irony is that when Rooney turned in his first transfer request a couple of years ago, that one of his justifications for the transfer request, was that United were not matching his ambition by signing world class players. Then as soon as they do, Rooney wants to jump ship. Obviously he meant, sign world class players just not in my position!
