Wayne Rooney Rejects 2012 Premier League Title if Man City Stripped

Wayne Rooney has declared that Manchester United do not 'deserve' to be awarded the 2011-12 Premier League title and that he would be uncomfortable accepting a winners medal should Manchester City be stripped of the crown. His stance contrasts with former teammates Rio Ferdinand and David De Gea, who have publicly expressed a desire for the title to be added to their medal collections.

Ferdinand and De Gea have suggested that the 2011-12 Premier League title should be awarded to Manchester United in light of the extensive charges brought against Manchester City by the Premier League. City have been found guilty of the vast majority of the 115 charges concerning alleged financial rule breaches during their period of dominance from 2009 to 2018.

However, Rooney, a legend at Old Trafford, believes that Sir Alex Ferguson's squad from the 2011-12 season did not earn the title outright. "I don't think we deserve it, we didn't do enough that season to win the league," Rooney said on the podcast 'Stick To United'. "I think we were six or seven points clear with four or five games to go and we threw it away."

Rooney emphasized that he would not want to receive a medal under such circumstances. "I wouldn't want it [a medal] because I don't think as a team we deserved it that year because obviously we didn't finish first," he stated. He also expressed empathy for Manchester City players, adding, "if those players have no understanding of what is going on above them, if that happened to me... I would be absolutely devastated."

The 2011-12 season concluded with Manchester United narrowly missing out on the title on the final day. While United secured a 1-0 victory against Sunderland, thanks to a Rooney header, Manchester City dramatically snatched the league title with two late goals from Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero against QPR, finishing level on points but ahead on goal difference.

Rooney's former teammates have voiced their opinions on social media. David De Gea posted on X, formerly Twitter, "So... Let's talk. How many Premier League titles have I won then?" Rio Ferdinand also commented, "Another premier league medal to be added to the cabinet."