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Rooney says Man Utd would not deserve Premier League titles if Man City stripped

Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney said he would not accept a Premier League winner's medal for the 2011-12 season even if Manchester City are stripped of their title over financial breach charges.

By The Lumen desk · Sept 30, 2026 · 1 min read
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What we know
1 Wayne Rooney played for Manchester United during the 2011-12 Premier League season.
2 Manchester City face financial breach charges, according to The Sun.
3 Rooney said he would not accept a Premier League winner's medal for that season even if City were stripped of the title.
4 Rooney reportedly said his 2011-12 United side "threw it away," according to The Sun.

Wayne Rooney has said he does not believe his 2011-12 Manchester United side would deserve to be considered Premier League champions, even if Manchester City were to lose their title due to financial breaches, according to multiple outlets.

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Rooney reportedly said his United team "threw it away" that season, according to The Sun, and stated he would not accept a winner's medal if City were stripped of the title.

BBC Sport reported Rooney's comments under the headline "Man Utd do not deserve Man City titles," reflecting his view on the matter.

The comments come amid ongoing scrutiny of Manchester City over financial breach charges, though the sources did not detail the current status or outcome of those charges.

How each side covered it

Center

2 outlets
  • Center outlets reported Rooney's view that his 2011-12 Manchester United team does not deserve champion status.
  • Coverage noted Rooney would not accept a winner's medal even if Manchester City were stripped of the title.

“Man Utd do not deserve Man City titles - Rooney” — BBC Sport

Right

2 outlets
  • Right-leaning outlets highlighted Rooney's quote that United "threw it away" that season.
  • Reports connected Rooney's comments directly to Manchester City's ongoing financial breach charges.
  • Daily Express described the comments as a "surprise verdict" from Rooney.

“'We threw it away' - Wayne Rooney claims Man Utd DON'T deserve 2012 title despite Man City's financial breaches” — The Sun

Questions readers ask

What did Wayne Rooney say about Manchester United and Manchester City's Premier League titles?

Wayne Rooney said he does not believe his 2011-12 Manchester United side deserve to be considered Premier League champions, even if Manchester City are stripped of the title over financial breach charges.

Would Rooney accept a Premier League winner's medal if City were stripped of the title?

No, according to Yahoo Sports and The Sun, Rooney said he would not accept a winner's medal for that season.

Why does this matter?

Manchester City face financial breach charges that could affect their Premier League titles, and Rooney's comments address whether rival clubs like Manchester United should benefit from any potential stripping of those titles.

What season is Rooney referring to?

Rooney is referring to the 2011-12 Premier League season, during which he played for Manchester United.

Sources · 4 outlet reports

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