Wayne Rooney revealed that in 2010 he was close to a move to Barcelona in a transfer he saw with Lionel Messi, Zavi and Andres Iniesta in Camp Nou.
Speaking to the BBC Sport, who won the Premier League five times, and Real Madrid and Chelsea were in the mixer to sign him, he was Barca and played for Pep Guardiola, who had occupied all of them.
“When I told Manchester United in 2010 that I don’t want to sign a new deal and apply to me, three clubs came in for me,” Rooney said.
“Manchester City are often mentioned as one of them, but I don’t think it’s ever been an option for me — teams that were close to Chelsea, Real and Barcelona.
“I was willing to go to Spain and some discussions were held,” he said.
“And an agreement with Real appeared for a couple of days, but it was Barcelona that I thought the most, and how I might adapt alongside Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Zavi and Sergio Busquets.
“I finally decided to stay at United, but Barca had an incredible team and any player he liked to play in.
“Winning the cups was the biggest reason I thought about leaving United in I was about to be 25 years old and I was worried about the club.