Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has rejected the idea of his former club receiving Premier League titles if Manchester City are stripped of them over financial-rule breaches.
Rooney was part of the United team that finished second behind City in the 2011-12 season. But he said he would not be comfortable receiving the title years later because United did not win it on the pitch.
City have been found guilty of most of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League. The charges cover the period from 2009-10 to 2017-18. The club was also accused of failing to cooperate with investigations between December 2018 and February 2023.
Speaking on the Stick to United podcast, Rooney said: “I wouldn’t feel comfortable about accepting another Premier League medal if I’m being honest, because I don’t think we deserve it. We didn’t do enough that season to win the league,”
He also said City players could be devastated if medals were taken away without them knowing what was happening behind the scenes.
Rooney disagreed with former teammates Rio Ferdinand and David de Gea, who backed retrospective titles for United.
“I’m happy with the five I’ve won,” he said. “I wouldn’t want this one just sat there… 15 years later or whatever it was you get a medal because City cheated. I wouldn’t feel comfortable.”
Rooney believes City could be relegated and face spending limits. “I’d go as big as I can really,” he said.
