Is Rooney going to get ‘fresh challenge’ at United?

It was early 2013, not long after the clubs had been drawn together in the Champions League, that officials from Manchester United informally sounded Real Madrid out about an idea.

If Cristiano Ronaldo was “sad” — as he had publicly said — the Old Trafford club could solve that issue by taking him back to England in exchange for cash... and Wayne Rooney.

Real, though, rejected the proposal. They just weren’t really interested in Rooney.