Football
Rob Dawson, Correspondent 5y

Wayne Rooney: End of Manchester United career was 'embarrassing'

Wayne Rooney has told Sky Sports he felt "embarrassed" by the end of his career at Manchester United.

Rooney revealed he knew he had to leave when Jose Mourinho asked him to lift the trophy following the 2017 EFL Cup final, which he had played no part in.

United's record goal-scorer returned to his first club Everton in 2017 after losing his place in Mourinho's team and has since joined D.C. United.

"There are times when you doubt yourself as a player, and think: 'Am I good enough?' he said.

"The time Jose Mourinho left me out of the Manchester United team ... there are moments when you do doubt yourself. I believe I was good enough to get back in the team, but I never really got that opportunity.

"I came on for one minute in the Europa League final, I was about to come on against Southampton in the League Cup final, and in those moments it was embarrassing."

Rooney, who made his final England appearance against the United States at Wembley on Thursday, said the game against Southampton last February was the turning point.

United won 3-2 but Rooney remained on the bench as Mourinho lifted the first trophy of his Old Trafford reign.

"It was getting to a point where I was embarrassed," Rooney said. "I thought: 'I can't keep doing this,' as hard as it was to leave Man United.

"In the Southampton game, Mourinho came to me and said: 'I want you to lift the trophy.' I was like: 'Well, I didn't even play in the game.'

"He was persistent with it, and I literally lifted it and moved it on. I just knew ... What was I doing? I needed to move on and go somewhere else."

^ Back to Top ^