Darren Fletcher: 'Manchester United worried Wayne Rooney would join Real Madrid'

Former Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has said that the club 'were worried' that Wayne Rooney would move to Real Madrid as the Englishman developed at Old Trafford.

Rooney joined United from Everton in 2004 and went on to score 253 times for the Red Devils in all competitions, becoming their all-time record goalscorer before re-joining the Toffees in 2017.

Fletcher has said that it became clear quite early that Rooney would go on to become a United great, with the only fear being that the likes of Madrid would attempt to take him from the English giants.

"Wayne was fantastic. We were two of the youngest in the dressing room and we built up a good relationship very early. There were a lot of experienced winners in the dressing room, and me and Wayne were close in age with similar backgrounds and we just got on and clicked," Fletcher told Sky Sports News.

"You could tell Wayne was going to go on and be a Manchester United great. The only worry was would a Real Madrid or someone like that come in for him, because that was quite possible.

"But there was no doubt that he was going to go on and win everything, go on and be club captain and end up England and Manchester United's leading goalscorer - what an achievement."

Rooney won five Premier League titles, one FA Cup and the Champions League during his time at Old Trafford.