Ex-United boss admits striker was close to Chelsea move
Former-Manchester United manager David Moyes has admitted that he fought hard to keep Wayne Rooney at the club and prevented him from joining fierce-rivals Chelsea.
The striker fell out with officials at Old Trafford and also ended his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson on bad terms before the Scot retired, leaving his future at the club in doubt.
However, Rooney eventually stayed at United and is now the club-captain, but Moyes has revealed how close the striker was to leaving the club just as he arrived.
United fans were worried about Rooney and Moyes’ working relationship after the striker left Everton back in 2004, which left the ex-Toffees boss livid, but he has now revealed how hard he fought to get the star to snub a move to Stamford Bridge.
Rooney to Chelsea was on
“Chelsea were close to taking him,” Moyes told the Sunday Times. “Jose [Mourinho] was interested but we wouldn’t do any business.
“I had to fight to make sure he stayed – and was at the heart, again, of what Manchester United were going to be moving forward.”
“I think he agreed and probably thought, ‘Wait a minute, I have to go back to being a bit more aggressive, a bit more myself'”.
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles