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Wayne Rooney made a shock U-turn and signed a new five-year deal at Manchester United on this day in 2010.<\/p>\n
It came as quite a shock when Rooney signed a new contract just two days after the United and England striker had announced his intention to quit Old Trafford when he released a statement which questioned the club\u2019s ambition.<\/p>\n
The then 24-year-old let rip at the club\u2019s leadership and said he would not be agreeing new terms following meetings with chief executive David Gill.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring those meetings in August I asked for assurances about the continued ability of the club to attract the top players in the world,\u201d said Rooney.<\/p>\n
\u201cI met with David Gill last week he did not give me any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad. I then told him that I would not be signing a new contract.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reports of Rooney\u2019s dissatisfaction had been rumbling for a few days, with a \u201cdumbfounded\u201d manager Sir Alex Ferguson also confirming the forward\u2019s desire to leave.<\/p>\n
Ferguson said: \u201cWe are as bemused as anyone can be, we can\u2019t quite understand why he would want to leave.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was dumbfounded. Only months before he was saying he was at the greatest club in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rumours started to spread about Rooney wanting to ditch United for rivals Manchester City, who were among many of the clubs keen to sign him, something which led to around 30 protesters gathering outside his Cheshire home.<\/p>\n
Given the strength of Rooney\u2019s statement, nobody expected the Liverpudlian to put pen to paper on a new contract.<\/p>\n
Rooney\u2019s U-turn came after conversations with Ferguson and the club\u2019s owners who convinced the England international to commit his future to the club.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m delighted to sign another deal at United,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve spoken to the manager and the owners and they\u2019ve convinced me this is where I belong.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ferguson added: \u201cI think Wayne now understands what a great club Manchester United is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rooney, who had joined United from Everton in 2004, stayed at the club for a further seven years and went on to become the club\u2019s record scorer with 253 goals.<\/p>\n