I think a lot of the hatred for Rooney is manufactured because he left and personally i have no grudges against him. It is a shame because if there was any chance of him returning then it is surely gone with any reception we have given him since. But to exlain my viewpoint;
1. He was always getting sold that summer whether we liked it or not. Apart from the board starting down a slippery slope of selling our best talents, we finished 17th that season when he left. For all those with rose tinted glasses, he swapped 17th for titles and trophies, what is wrong with that?
2. The comments mainly made by Rooney was spoon fed by his agent. We all knew he was a scum bag but i don't think Rooney would have said anything like that unless he was told to. He had to upsell moving to OT so therefore the P.R team had to put us down as a club.
3. Turn the perspective around. We don't treat any of our young players we have bought in with discontent yet do so when we sell our own? Perhaps it is because it was a sore subject at the time but surely the hatred in the matter should be directed at the board for selling him to begin with rather than Rooney wanting more money and success. Selling Wayne led to Arteta, Lescott, Fellaini, Baines?, Rodwell etc The board done it once and got away with it so after that it was acceptable.
Personally if Rooney would play for vastly reduced wages again then i would have him back in a heartbeat. For all the trophies in the world, nothing will compare to winning them with your boyhood club and being the reason why you are winning them. He is a class act and i think we would be top with him up front now, but then gain that is a what if.