Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has admitted being left gutted by the departure of a team-mate during his time at the club and believes it signalled a major shift in the balance of power in the city.
Rooney spent 13 years as a player at Man United and became the club’s record goalscorer, netting 253 times in 559 appearances.
His Man United career included five Premier League titles and a Champions League in 2008, as well as Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup triumphs.
Rooney’s spell at the club saw him play alongside an impressive cast list of players, including the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.
The club legend, however, has pinpointed that the departure of another forward player as one that left him ‘gutted’ during his time with the Red Devils.
Rooney highlighted Carlos Tevez’s exit from the club as a significant moment, with the Argentine forward moving to Man City ahead of the 2009-2010 season in a deal reportedly worth £25.5m.
Tevez had turned down a permanent move to Man United, where he had spent the past two seasons on loan and formed part of a formidable forward line alongside Rooney and Ronaldo.
The trio spearheaded their Premier League title win and Champions League success in the 2007-8 season, with another title and League Cup success following in the subsequent season.
Confirmation of Tevez’s move to Man City in July 2009 came just two weeks after Ronaldo’s £80m move to Real Madrid was confirmed.
Rooney admitted to the BBC that Tevez’s move had left him ‘gutted’ and suggested the Argentine’s move to Man City marked a shift in the power in the city.
‘I was gutted to be honest, I’m pretty sure Carlos wanted to stay at Manchester United,’ Rooney told the BBC.
‘Man City at the time were trying to build and become competitive and I knew that he’d be a massive part of that because obviously the ability he has.
‘I think we’ve seen when he went there, he had some great times there as well.
‘I was devastated, I would’ve really like him to stay longer and continue to play with him.’
Man City had ramped up tensions following the transfer even further with the club unveiling a ‘Welcome to Manchester’ banner in the city.
Sir Alex Ferguson had responded to the banner by labelling Man City a ‘small club’.
‘It’s City isn’t it? They’re a small club with a small mentality,’ Ferguson said. ‘All they can talk about is Manchester United; they can’t get away from it,” he said.
‘They think taking Carlos Tevez away from Manchester United is a triumph. It is poor stuff.’
While Chelsea and Man United claimed the next two Premier League titles, Tevez proved a key part of Man City’s rise over his four-year spell at the club.
Tevez was part of the squad that delivered their first Premier League title in the 2011-12 season, with the club’s famously snatching the league away from Man United in injury-time on the final day of the season.
While Man United wrestled back the title the following season, it has proved their last triumph while Man City have gone on to claim a further seven league titles.
