Rooney rejects potential 2011-12 Premier League medal if Man City are stripped of title

Wayne Rooney has distanced himself from calls by former Manchester United teammates to claim the 2011-12 Premier League title, saying he would not feel comfortable accepting a medal even if Manchester City are ultimately stripped of it.

City have allegedly been found guilty of the majority of 115 charges relating to breaches of the Premier League’s Financial Fair Play rules, with sanctions yet to be determined. Stripping the club of titles won between 2009 and 2018 remains one possible outcome, which would hand United the 2011-12 crown — a title they famously surrendered on the final day when Sergio Agüero’s injury-time goal against QPR sealed the championship for City.

Former United defender Rio Ferdinand and goalkeeper David de Gea have both publicly called for that trophy to be added to their collection, but Rooney — a five-time Premier League winner with the club — took a markedly different view on the Stick To United podcast.

“I have heard Rio has come out saying about getting another Premier League medal… I wouldn’t really feel comfortable accepting another Premier League medal, if I’m being honest,” Rooney said. “I don’t think we deserve it, we didn’t do enough that season to win the league. I think we were six or seven points clear with four or five games to go and we threw it away.”

Rooney also expressed sympathy for City’s players, arguing they should not be held responsible for decisions made above them. “I was putting myself in a Man City player’s shoes. They’re players, they’re doing everything they can to try and win the Premier League title and in their mind they have done it. If those players have no understanding of what is going on above them, if that happened to me… I would be absolutely devastated.”

Despite acknowledging that City may deserve to be sanctioned for the conduct of their ownership, Rooney was clear that he has no desire to benefit from it. “Should they get it stripped for what the owners have done? Yeah maybe, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable accepting it. I’m happy with the five I’ve won. I wouldn’t want this one.”

De Gea had taken to social media following news of City’s alleged guilty verdict, writing: “So… Let’s talk” — a thinly veiled suggestion that a medal was owed to him and his former teammates. Ferdinand made similar remarks publicly. Rooney’s response sets him apart from that camp and adds a notable dissenting voice to what has become an increasingly charged debate around the potential consequences of the City case.