Sir Alex Ferguson claims Wayne Rooney rejected Manchester United transfer twice
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed how Wayne Rooney rejected Manchester united twice before signing for them in 2004 from Everton, according to ESPN. Rooney was signed for £27 million by United in the summer of 2004 after a hot pursuit of the former Evertonian for four years on the recommendation of Jim Ryan.
Ryan was the director of youth football at Old Trafford at that time and the eventual transfer made the then 18-year-old Rooney one of the most expensive signings in the Premier League. He also became the most expensive teenager in history at the time of his transfer.
Rooney rejected Manchester United when he was 14 and 16 years old
“Jim Ryan came back from one of our academy games at the 14 years level and he said 'I've seen a player' and he said the boy is Wayne Rooney,” Ferguson told ITV Sport, explaining how they failed to sign the striker when he was 14 years old.
“We tried to get him because there's a window at the end of the season – it's a one-week window – where we can entice or approach a boy from another club to come join your academy, but it failed. The boy wanted to stay at Everton – at that time he had a love of the club and he's an Everton fan."
In the interview, the legendary Scot also explained how they made a second bid for him, weeks before his debut goal against Arsenal as a 16-year-old which ended the Gunners’ 30-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League in 2002.
He said: “When he got to 16 we tried again. We approached him to join as a 16-year-old, but once again he refused.
“Then I think everyone saw the highlights when he scored that goal against Arsenal. It confirmed exactly what Jim Ryan had said. This boy was going to be a United player.”
Now in his 12th season at Old Trafford, Wayne Rooney has scored 233 league goals and is only 15 goals behind the legendary Manchester United player Bobby Charlton. The current England skipper will also be given an award if breaks the former’s record of goals scored for England. He is only one goal shy of equalling Bobby Charlton’s record.