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Wayne Rooney Reveals The Moment He Knew He Had To Leave Manchester United

Josh Lawless

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Wayne Rooney Reveals The Moment He Knew He Had To Leave Manchester United

Wayne Rooney has pinpointed the exact moment he knew it was time to leave Manchester United.

Rooney spent 13 trophy-laden years at United and beat Sir Bobby Charlton's goalscoring record after notching 253 goals for the club.

He lifted two trophies under Jose Mourinho in his final season but scored just eight goals in 39 games and was in and out of the team.

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England's all-time top goalscorer was actually 'embarrassed' at the situation and knew that he had to move onto pastures new.

Speaking to Sky Sports, via Goal, Rooney said: "There are times when you doubt yourself as a player, you think: 'Am I good enough?'"

"The time Jose Mourinho left me out of the Manchester United team. There are moments when you do doubt yourself, I believe I was good enough to get back in the team, but I never really got that opportunity.

"I came on for one minute in the Europa League final, I was about to come on against Southampton in the League Cup final, and in those moments it was embarrassing."

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In the 3-2 win at Wembley, Rooney, the team's captain, didn't even getting onto the pitch but Mourinho insisted he lift the trophy - even though United's No.10 didn't feel part of the triumph.

Image: PA
Image: PA

"In the Southampton game, Mourinho came to me and said: 'I want you to lift the trophy.'"

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"I was like: 'Well, I didn't even play in the game.'

"He was persistent with it, and I literally lifted it and moved it on! I just knew... what was I doing? I need to move on and go somewhere else."

Rooney, now playing for D.C United in the MLS, made his final appearance for England as a substitute last night, replacing United's Jesse Lingard and wearing the captain's armband for his 120th and final cap.

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Did Rooney leave United at the right time?

Sound off in the comments.

Topics: Football News, Jose Mourinho, Football, Manchester United, Everton, D.C United, Wayne Rooney

Josh Lawless
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