Wayne Rooney says he wanted to join Barcelona in 2010, but financial difficulties and the strength of the Catalan side ultimately made a move impossible.
The former Manchester United striker recalled the possibility during an appearance on The United Stand, explaining that Barcelona did not have a conventional number nine at the time and that he believed he would have suited their team.
“I really wanted to play for Barcelona. At that time, they lacked a traditional number nine. I felt I could easily integrate into that team and fit in perfectly. A transfer was indeed possible, but there were significant financial obstacles,” Rooney said.
Rooney had previously provided more detail about the circumstances in an interview, saying he had decided against extending his Manchester United contract in 2010 and had asked to leave the club.
“At that time, three clubs offered me contracts: Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Barcelona,” he said. “I was mentally prepared to play in Spain, and negotiations had taken place.”
The England international said Real Madrid appeared to be the leading option during the early stages of discussions, but his preference was Barcelona. He imagined playing alongside Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Sergio Busquets, who formed the core of one of the most successful teams in the club’s history.
“For two or three days, Real Madrid seemed most likely to reach an agreement with me, but in reality, I yearned more for Barcelona, imagining what it would be like to play alongside Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, and Busquets,” Rooney said.
He eventually remained at Manchester United, where he continued to play a central role for the club. Rooney added that Barcelona’s team at the time was so strong that it represented an opportunity any footballer would have wanted.
“In the end, I stayed at Manchester United, but that Barcelona team was incredibly strong; any player would aspire to play for them,” he said.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Rooney’s recollection relates to a period when Barcelona were dominant in European football and had a squad built around several of the game’s leading players. Despite the interest and negotiations involving the Spanish clubs, the financial obstacles prevented the proposed transfer from being completed.
Rooney’s comments also indicate that, although Real Madrid appeared briefly to be in the strongest position to sign him, Barcelona was the destination he most wanted. His admiration for the club’s style and its outstanding group of players made the prospect particularly appealing.
The former striker’s account is the latest reminder of how close Manchester United came to losing one of their leading attacking players in 2010. Instead, Rooney stayed at Old Trafford after the discussions with Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona failed to produce a move.
