David Moyes has admitted that Wayne Rooney was disillusioned with life at Manchester United when he arrived at the club in the summer of 2013.
The Scot replaced Sir Alex Ferguson at the Red Devils following their Premier League title win in the 2012-13 campaign, but Moyes has revealed that the England international was not in a "good place" heading into the new season.
However, Rooney got back to form during the campaign after signing a new contract with the club, but he couldn't stop United struggling under Moyes, who was sacked just 10 months into his reign.
Moyes told The Mirror: "When I arrived at United, it was well-known that Wayne wasn't in a good place. He was a bit down and I told him I needed to see the old Wayne Rooney.
"I asked him to get back to being that hungry, aggressive player, who I'd seen at Everton. Sometimes, he does overstep the mark, but I always thought that it is better to have Wayne Rooney straining at the leash rather than playing within himself.
"His response was to get himself in his best physical condition and he was terrific for me at United."
Moyes could be in line for a return to management with Real Sociedad.
Simon Sinclair
