Manchester United great Wayne Rooney is confident he'd have had no regrets if he'd signed for Newcastle United back in 2004.

Rooney signed for United from Everton, but not before Newcastle made an attempt.

Asked about the audacious move from then chairman Freddy Shepherd, Rooney told the Chronicle: "Newcastle are a fantastic club – and YES, there was interest.

"It was a unique atmosphere playing at St James' Park, the fans are so passionate and I always enjoyed coming up against Newcastle.

"It was a different experience to everywhere else."

Newcastle had England regulars such as Kieron Dyer and Jermaine Jenas on the books back then and they tried their best to persuade the former Everton superstar to come to ply his trade in front of the Gallowgate End.

Rooney told me: "Players I knew who played for the club always said it was such a fantastic place to play football because the fans are out of this world.

"Their away support has to be one of the best as well, they create an incredible atmosphere everywhere they go."