Wayne Rooney has revealed why he considered leaving Manchester United at the end of last season.

The England striker says he suffered a dip in form after he was played out of position by former manager Alex Ferguson.

Rooney was given a role in midfield, but he did not want to play there, although he claimed that he was reveling in the role when quizzed about the situation at the time... 

Great win today. Really enjoying my new midfield role. Always involved in the game.

— Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) October 7, 2012

 

He was also regularly played on the wing in big European games during his time under Ferguson.

He has been a regular starter up front in the No 10 role under new United boss David Moyes, and says he is "enjoying it".

Moyes has also ruled out a midfield role for the player he brought through at Everton.

And Rooney was very clear about his unwillingness to drop back into a deeper starting position.

"I didn’t feel I got a consistent run of games up front,’’ Rooney said. "I actually felt when I played in midfield I did OK but I didn’t want to play there. I felt I deserved the right to play in my position and that wasn’t happening. I can play midfield. Maybe when I’m a bit older, losing my legs a bit, I can go back there.

"Everyone at the club knew that’s where I wanted to play. That’s why I was ­disappointed because I got told to play in midfield and I didn’t want to but I’d always go in and try to help the team. There had to come a point where for my own career I had to be a bit selfish really.’"

Rooney also hinted that he could sign a new deal and United have been keen to offer him one.