Wayne Rooney snubs Man Utd when naming current Premier League team he'd like to play for

Wayne Rooney has named the Premier League team he'd choose to play for if he were still a footballer and neither of his former clubs got the nod.

Manchester United all-time leading goalscorer Rooney spent 13 successful years at Old Trafford, at the end of which the Red Devils were showing signs of wear after Alex Ferguson's departure.

United last won the Premier League in 2012-13. While they've continued to pick up silverware, they've slipped down the table over the years and finished in the lower reaches in 2024-25.

When asked which current Premier League team he'd like to play for, the England legend went with his head over his heart and identified one of United's great rivals as his preferred modern-day destination.

Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show podcast with Kelly Somers and comedian Kae Kurd, the former Birmingham City manager offered a surprise answer.

In the latest episode, Kurd asked: "Which team would you have liked to have played in if you were playing right now? Which team do you reckon you would have slotted into and just caused havoc?"

"I do like what Arsenal are doing," answered Rooney. "I think we've seen that over the last few years. I think they're solid and they're hard defensively to play through and they've been crying out obviously for a number 9.

"They've got that now with [Viktor] Gyokeres. But I think the way Arsenal are playing at the minute, it's not overplaying, but also they're working on set pieces and they are getting balls in the box as well.

"I think the way Arsenal are playing at the minute it'd probably suit me more."

Arsenal star Viktor Gyokeres pictured (Image: Getty)

Rooney, now 39, would have had a field day in any one of the teams capable of creating chances.

Only Alan Shearer and Harry Kane have scored more Premier League goals than Rooney, who bagged 208 for Everton and United after bursting onto the scene as a teenager with the Toffees in 2002.

The Gunners have made a 100% start to the new season, scoring six goals and conceding none in their first two games of 2025-26.

They won 1-0 away against Man Utd on opening weekend before putting five unanswered past Leeds United on Saturday.