- Wayne Rooney said he would rather see Arsenal win the Premier League than rivals Manchester City or Liverpool, citing his Manchester United loyalties
- He praised manager Pep Guardiola for transforming English football and expressed hope that he would remain at City
- Rooney suggested that if Guardiola departed, City should consider appointing Vincent Kompany as his successor, highlighting his leadership and experience
Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has said he would prefer to see Arsenal win the Premier League title this season rather than rivals Manchester City or Liverpool.
Rooney, who spent 13 years at Old Trafford and remains the club’s record goalscorer, admitted that his loyalties heavily influence his view — particularly when it comes to Liverpool.
Speaking as reported by BBC Sport on Friday, Rooney acknowledged City’s dominance under manager Pep Guardiola but maintained that he would rather see Arsenal lift the trophy.
“I would prefer Arsenal to win it. I played for Manchester United for 13 years,” Rooney said. “For me, Liverpool are the ones I wouldn’t want to win it, and then it would be City. I think Arsenal will just win it.”
Despite his preference, Rooney stressed that the title race remains finely balanced and could be decided by key upcoming fixtures involving the contenders. He pointed in particular to the potential emotional impact of decisive clashes in both domestic and European competition.
“I think a big factor will be if Manchester City and Arsenal meet in the Champions League,” he said. “The emotions around the League Cup final, the Champions League games, if that is the case, and then the game at the Etihad. The emotion around those games and what that will bring — whoever comes out on top in those, I think, will win the league.”
City, who have claimed six Premier League titles under Guardiola since his appointment in 2016, remain firmly in contention for another crown. However, uncertainty surrounds the Spaniard’s future beyond this campaign, with a decision on whether he will remain at the Etihad Stadium expected at or after the end of the season.
Rooney made clear he hopes Guardiola stays in English football, describing him as a transformative figure in the league.
“I hope he stays because he is brilliant for the Premier League, and you want the best managers in the Premier League,” Rooney said. “He has set a benchmark over the past 10 years for everyone else.”
Should Guardiola depart, Rooney believes City should turn to former captain Vincent Kompany, who is currently managing Bayern Munich.
“If Pep does go, they have to go and get Vincent Kompany,” he added. “He knows the club; he has been successful with Bayern in a similar way. It looks like he has learned from Pep.”
Rooney also suggested Guardiola may have a say in selecting his successor, keen to ensure the club remains in a strong position should he decide to bring his tenure to an end.