Wayne Rooney disclosed his near-transfer to Barcelona in 2010, sharing that he was tempted to play alongside Lionel Messi and other stars. While Chelsea and Real Madrid also pursued him, his strongest inclination was towards Barcelona under Pep Guardiola’s management. Rooney mentioned he felt ready to shift to Spain and engaged in discussions about the possibility. Ultimately, he chose to remain at Manchester United but expressed admiration for Barcelona's stellar lineup and acknowledged that his desire for trophies was a significant factor in his considerations at the time.
When I told Manchester United in 2010 that I did not want to sign a new deal and put in a transfer request, three clubs came in for me.
In my head, I was ready to go and play in Spain and some talks did take place.
Winning trophies was the biggest reason I considered leaving United in 2010. I was about to turn 25 and I was concerned about the direction of the club.
Barcelona had an incredible team then and any player would have loved to have played in it.
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