The England striker has started rebuilding bridges with supporters following his threat to quit Old Trafford last month.
He scored the winning penalty against Rangers in the Champions League on Wednesday and then said sorry for questioning United's ambition when rejecting a new five-year contract in the summer.
The 25-year-old eventually changed his mind, signing a deal that made him the highest paid player in the club's history, worth around £160,000 a week. But he was told by Sir Alex Ferguson to apologise to his team-mates and fans for his actions.
He did that this week, admitting it would have been the biggest mistake of his life to leave.
But former United players, Clayton Blackmore and David May, insist Rooney has nothing to be sorry for.
Blackmore believes last season's double footballer of the year had every right to demand a bumper pay deal.
I didn't think he needed to apologise, he said. Every footballer gets their contract sorted out. All he wanted to do was get in line with the City players who are on a fortune.
Last season he was one of the best players in the league probably in Europe. Yet he was probably getting half of what some of the City lads are on. And he's got an agent who wants to push for the best deal.
May adds that Rooney was justified in questioning whether United could still compete for the world's best players, given the £700m debt laid on the club by owners, the Glazer family.
I don't know whether it was because of his contract and money it was because of the Glazers, said the former defender. There's been so much speculation about them not putting money in the pot.
If you look at the bigger picture and look at the squad Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes will all leave in the next two years maximum. Are the Glazers going to bring in fresh blood?
If Wayne signed a five-year deal, he'd have tied himself to the club and would he want to be at a club where the owners don't want to move forward?
That's why Wayne stalled on his contract. Once Giggs or Scholes leave, are the club going to invest to replace them?
Blackmore added: It's just the same as the fans. They want to see new faces as well.
Rooney enjoyed the best season of his career last year, scoring a personal best 34 goals, including the winner in the Carling Cup final against Aston Villa.
But he has endured a turbulent time since twisting his ankle in the Champions League quarter final against Bayern Munich in March.
He has yet to score from open play for United since that match at the Allianz Arena, which was a major factor in Chelsea pipping them to the title by a single point.
He had a miserable World Cup, failing to score in the entire tournament and verbally lashing out at England fans on live TV.
Since then there have been lurid allegations about his private life, a public fall-out with Sir Alex Ferguson over fitness and the contract wrangle.
But he hopes his winner against Rangers will prove the turning point and spur United on to title charge in the New Year.
Some fans are still bitter about his intention to leave the club even if he will have appeased the majority of them by insisting he never considered a move to fierce rivals, City.
May says it is now time to forget about the past.
It could've gone pear-shaped, but everyone has to look at the positives, he said. He's staying for five years.
People were saying he's not apologised, now he's come out and said it and everybody should rally round and get behind the team.
Despite problems with Rooney's fitness and form so far this season he's scored two goals, both from the penalty spot United remain firmly in contention for the title.
They are level with Chelsea at the top of the Premier League and remain unbeaten in all competitions.
The signs are ominous for their rivals with Ferguson admitting they have not come close to hitting top form yet this term.
The main thing is that they are still there and haven't particularly played well, said May. They will get better in the second half of the season, they invariably do.
Last season they would've romped the league if not for injuries. Now Chelsea are getting injuries with centre halves missing, midfielders missing, and it does hit you and affect the team. It makes a massive difference.
Blackmore believes United could've won title even if Rooney had done the unthinkable and headed out the exit door.
I thought we could've done it without him, he said. We've scored all these goals without him and should've won those games we threw away.
If you look at the Fulham, Everton and West Brom games, United should be well clear at the top. That's six points dropped.
They've got quite a few levels to go up.
Source: Manchester Evening News
Source: M.E.N.