Former Manchester United manager David Moyes has revealed he faced a fight in order to keep Wayne Rooney at the Theatre of Dreams during his 10 month tenure.
The Scot initially worked with the current United captain during his time at Everton, bringing Rooney through the youth ranks for selling him to the Reds for an impressive fee of £25.6 million.
However, it was reported the two had become out-of-favour with one another at Goodison Park, and their former feud could affect his spell with the 20 time league champions.
Nevertheless, Moyes was determined to ensure he had the services of Rooney during his spell, and had to fight in order to keep him in Manchester.
“Chelsea were really close to taking him. Jose [Mourinho] was interested but we wouldn’t do any business,” he said. “I had to fight to make sure he stayed – and he [Rooney] was at the heart, again, of what Manchester United were going to be moving forward.
“I felt he’d lost a bit of his fight. The thing about Wayne was he was always a fighter; he’s a technically terrific footballer, he can do anything with the ball, but behind it he’s a tough boy, a street fighter in his football, and I felt he’d lost a bit of that.
“I think he agreed and probably thought, ‘Wait a minute, I have to go back to being a bit more aggressive, a bit more myself’.”
Rooney has featured 29 times for the Red Devils this season, and has recently reverted back to his role as lone striker under Louis van Gaal, formerly featuring in a midfield role.
The Englishman currently has 14 goals to his name in all competitions this season.
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