Wayne Rooney breaks silence on the Manchester United transfer decision that did not please him

For Rooney, Tevez, the now 41-year-old, was that tireless partner, the striker who pressed relentlessly and created space for Ronaldo’s magic to shine. Losing him to the neighbour was more than a sporting blow; it hit the morale of a dressing room that had found in their attacking trident a near-perfect formula. That he left just as City were beginning to strengthen ignited a spark of rivalry that turned into pure fire.

“I was gutted to be honest. I’m pretty sure Carlos wanted to stay at Manchester United. Man City at the time were trying to build and become competitive, and I knew that he’d be a massive part of that because obviously the ability he has. I think we’ve seen that when he went there, he had some great times there as well. I was devastated. I would’ve really liked him to stay longer and continue to play with him.”

Quote Via: Metro

Opinion:

Sometimes people talk about how football history is changed by one-off decisions. Tevez’s departure from Old Trafford is one of those stories that leaves open questions. United fans should understand Rooney’s reaction as genuine and telling: he felt that connection on the pitch deserved more time to blossom.

Tevez had a tireless drive, that street instinct to fight for every ball, and that inspired his teammates. When a key player leaves, the chemistry breaks down. In that sense, Sir Alex Ferguson’s management seems like a blind spot in an almost untouchable trajectory. The Scot was famous for making firm decisions, but here perhaps there was a lack of flexibility to keep a warrior who worked his socks off for the club happy.

Manchester United undoubtedly missed an opportunity to arm Tevez for good. His compatibility with Rooney and Ronaldo was not easy to replace. Comparing this transfer with other moves of stars who changed sides, such as Sol Campbell from Tottenham to Arsenal, or Luis Figo from Barça to Madrid, it is clear that betrayal hurts more when it directly reinforces the rival.

City took advantage of the fracture and built their project on players with a thirst for revenge. Tevez became a symbol of that transformation. Looking at him today, it is hard not to think that if United had been more astute, they might have delayed their neighbour’s golden era. In the end, Tevez’s departure was not only the loss of a crack player but the spark that ignited the ambition of a new giant.