Wayne Rooney hopes he has repaid the loyal United fans who have supported him and admits last year's transfer request was a 'mistake'.
The 25-year-old England star submitted the request to leave Old Trafford last October after claiming chief executive David Gill had failed to give him assurances about United's ability to attract top-class talent in the future.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson alluded to Rooney's contract stand-off being driven by the player's advisers after claiming that agents, rather than players, are the root cause of difficulties in negotiations.
But Rooney saw the light and pocketed a big pay rise when he stunned the football world with a shock u-turn a few days later.
"I made a mistake," he told the Guardian.
"You know, when I look back at it now, I'll say it again, how wrong was I? I'm willing to admit that. I've apologised and ever since then I have wanted to try to prove myself again to the fans. I feel I am doing that now."
At the time, many United fans felt Rooney had been badly advised, but even those who felt let down by him now appear to have been won over by his recent form - which has seen him score 12 goals in 21 games since the start of 2011.
"I'm delighted with my form at the minute and I'm grateful to the fans for supporting me through (the transfer demands)," he added.
"I hope I've repaid the fans now. I certainly feel vindicated (for deciding to stay). It's going to be a great end to the season if we can get to Wembley and win a Champions League final as well as the league."
"I am a lot happier in my life, a lot happier with the way I'm playing. It's almost been like having to settle down again and I've done that now."
The 25-year-old England star submitted the request to leave Old Trafford last October after claiming chief executive David Gill had failed to give him assurances about United's ability to attract top-class talent in the future.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson alluded to Rooney's contract stand-off being driven by the player's advisers after claiming that agents, rather than players, are the root cause of difficulties in negotiations.
But Rooney saw the light and pocketed a big pay rise when he stunned the football world with a shock u-turn a few days later.
"I made a mistake," he told the Guardian.
"You know, when I look back at it now, I'll say it again, how wrong was I? I'm willing to admit that. I've apologised and ever since then I have wanted to try to prove myself again to the fans. I feel I am doing that now."
At the time, many United fans felt Rooney had been badly advised, but even those who felt let down by him now appear to have been won over by his recent form - which has seen him score 12 goals in 21 games since the start of 2011.
"I'm delighted with my form at the minute and I'm grateful to the fans for supporting me through (the transfer demands)," he added.
"I hope I've repaid the fans now. I certainly feel vindicated (for deciding to stay). It's going to be a great end to the season if we can get to Wembley and win a Champions League final as well as the league."
"I am a lot happier in my life, a lot happier with the way I'm playing. It's almost been like having to settle down again and I've done that now."
sport.co.uk
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