DIEGO PEACE PACT
says WAYNE ROONEY
DIEGO COSTA is ready to play for Chelsea again and make peace with boss Antonio Conte.
Chelsea yesterday lodged a £62m bid for Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata after missing out on Romelu Lukaku.
But Starsport understands Costa, who finds himself in limbo as he ® EXCLUSIVE by DAVID WOODS cannot re-sign for old club Atletico Madrid until January, has offered an olive branch to Conte.
A source close to the Spain striker last night said Costa
(right) might play for the Blues
WAYNE ROONEY admitted the hardest part of his Manchester United career coming to an end was when he lifted his last two trophies for the club.
He didn’t know it at the time, but his 13-year stint at Old Trafford was heading for the end as early as last September as he trudged off the pitch after United had been well beaten 3-1 at Watford.
Jose Mourinho was not impressed with the striker’s display after three defeats on the trot so he tinkered with his tactics – leaving the skipper fearing the worst as he kicked his heels on the fringes.
“I had a bad game at Watford away and that was it,” said Rooney.
“He obviously changed the system a little bit, he started with me as a No.10 with Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) up front but then he changed the system a little bit and the lads who came in did well.
“He stuck with that. That’s his decision and I respect him as a person and as a manager. I understand managers have to make decisions. But I knew I also have to make decisions for my career.”
Flooding
That decision for his career was made in November when he started exploring the possibility of a move and offers came flooding in from China and America as well as closer to home.
But there was still a job to do at United, he was still the club captain and the professionalism of the player ensured he did not sulk.
He discussed his future with Mourinho in January but the United boss asked him to stay until the end of the season, which ended with League Cup and Europa League glory, even if he was no longer a central figure.
“I’d not lost the joy but it’s frustrating if you are not playing,” he said.
“It was just a frustrating time. The hardest thing was lifting the two trophies, the League Cup and the Europa League.
“You don’t feel like you (deserve it) because you haven’t been part of the game. That was hard to do – you’re naturally happy because you have won but you don’t celebrate it as much as if you were on the pitch.”
It was still a fitting end for a player who won a Champions League, five Premier League titles, the FA Cup, three League Cups and the Europa League at United.
But there was no doubting he had lost his edge at the club and his performances were far below his best. He knew he had to move to get more time on the pitch and stop his career from fizzling out.
Ronald Koeman and Rooney are hoping the return to Goodison Park will reignite him, and the Toffees boss said: “Everyone knows the qualities of Wayne.
“We want to get more productivity – he’s a striker and he can play out of different positions.”
However, as he started pre-season training yesterday, Rooney is well aware he has to prove himself at Everton and that games will not be gifted.
“I’m hoping that I don’t give Ronald any chance to leave me out of the team,” said Rooney. “There is competition for places here and I need to do well.”
There is also the chance of winning his England place back before next year’s World Cup in Russia, with the last of his 119 caps coming in the November clash with Scotland.
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate eventually dropped him due to his lack of game time with United.
“I’m focused on Everton and playing well and if I do that, Gareth Southgate will have a decision to make,” said Rooney.
“Hopefully if I play well, he won’t be able to leave me out. I understood his decision – you can’t get in the England squad because of what you have done before.
“I want to play for England. If I’d gone to China, which was an option, then I’d have called it a day myself.”
Rooney could start his Everton career on July 27 in the Europa League qualifiers, while the return to Old Trafford will be on September 17.
But it’s the December 9 fixture against Liverpool that Rooney is eyeing as he looks to not only end Everton’s 22-year wait for silverware, but score for the Toffees against their neighbours.
“That was one of my biggest regrets when I left Everton, not scoring in the derby,” he added.
“To score against Liverpool for Everton? That would be great.”