Manchester United owners were left fearing for the worst when Wayne Rooney wanted away from the club a few years ago.

The Glazer family believed that their star man Rooney would join fierce rivals Manchester City when the striker handed in a transfer request back in 2010.

It was well documented that Rooney grew frustrated after United did not strengthen the squad sufficiently following the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, and the now-captain had made his intentions known as a result.

Despite the public fall-out, Rooney moved on to sign a multi-million pound, 5-year deal with the Red Devils but it has now been revealed that the United board were very worried at the time as there was a real possibility that the England skipper would consider joining crosstown rivals City.

Tehsin Nayani, the former spokesman for the Glazer family, reveals in his book that 'there was a growing resignation among the club's hierarchy that Rooney was on his way to join Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City'.