Rooney back to his roots
LIVERPOOL. — Wayne Rooney yesterday completed his return to boyhood club Everton from Manchester United. THE Toffees confirmed yesterday that the deal for the star was done as he comes back to Goodison Park 13 years after his departure. Rooney (31) was at Everton’s Finch Farm training ground on Saturday to undergo his medical before signing on the dotted line. After completing his move, in a video posted on the club’s Twitter page, he said: “Hi everyone.”
LIVERPOOL. — Wayne Rooney yesterday completed his return to boyhood club Everton from Manchester United.
The Toffees confirmed yesterday that the deal for the star was done as he comes back to Goodison Park 13 years after his departure.
Rooney (31) was at Everton’s Finch Farm training ground on Saturday to undergo his medical before signing on the dotted line.
After completing his move, in a video posted on the club’s Twitter page, he said: “Hi everyone. “I’m delighted to be back at Everton. “I can’t wait to put the blue shirt on and run out at Goodison. See you soon.
“It is some time since I said that the only Premier League club I would play for other than Manchester United was Everton, so I am delighted that the move has happened,” he later said in a statement.
“Thirteen years ago I went to United with the intention of winning trophies and I have been fortunate to be a part of one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.
“I have come back to Everton because I believe (Everton manager) Ronald Koeman is building a team that can win something and I look forward to playing my part in making that a reality for the club I have supported since a boy.”
Rooney insists he didn’t just return for sentimental reasons and claims that winning a trophy with Everton would be the greatest achievement of his career.
Speaking to Everton TV, he added: “(Winning trophies with Everton) would be the pinnacle.
“I really feel now the club is moving in the right direction, bringing the right calibre of players in.
“I want to be part of it and hopefully part of a successful Everton team. “It’s a great feeling to be back. “I’m excited, I cannot wait to meet the lads, get on the training pitch and then get on the pitch to play.
“I’m ecstatic — I just cannot wait to get back playing.
“I’m excited, and I’m excited by the signings that the club have made. “This club is moving forward. “This football club should be winning trophies and we’re taking huge steps to being involved and trying to win trophies.
“The first game back will be an emotional day for me and I’m looking forward to it.
“I’m not just coming back because it’s the team I support, the team I grew up playing for — I’m coming back because I feel the club can move forward and be successful.
“I want to be part of it. There will be pressure on me to perform, but I’m ready to go.
“I believe I can help move this club forward and be more successful on the pitch.
“With the new stadium in the pipeline, it’s an exciting time to be an Everton player, to be an Everton fan.
“It’s on us players to make those times even more exciting by giving them good performances and try to help them be successful and bring trophies to the club.”
Rooney also praised the roles of Ronald Koeman in ensuring he made the return.
He said: “Ronald Koeman was very influential in me coming here.
“When it was obvious I was going to be leaving Manchester United this summer, Ronald came out a few times and said how much he wanted me at the club and that had a huge impact on me.
“There were other options there but once I knew that Everton wanted me to come back then it was the only option for me.
“Bill (Kenwright) obviously played a big role in it but the important one was Ronald Koeman.
“He was the one who picks the team and he’s the one who has his ideas on the football pitch.
“There were a lot more things behind the scenes which needed to happen but, for me, the important person to speak to was Ronald Koeman.
“As I spoke to Ronald and saw it in his eyes that he wanted me to be part of his team, it was a no-brainer for me and the only place I was going to go.”
He became the world’s most-expensive teenager when he left Merseyside for Old Trafford in 2014 for £25.6million.
England’s all-time top goalscorer went on to win five Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup, Fifa Club World Cup, Europa League and the League Cup four times.
United have confirmed that they have agreed a deal with Everton for forward Romelu Lukaku to make the move in the opposite direction.
Lukaku completed his medical and will link up with best mate Paul Pogba on United’s pre-season tour.
Rooney will receive a £10million golden goodbye from United after ending his time with the Europa League champions.
But his £160 000-a-week deal at new club Everton is just over HALF his United wages.
Rooney is expected to be granted a two-year contract plus an option of a further 12 months, after which he plans to hang up his boots.
Former England skipper Rooney, who was on £300 000 a week at Old Trafford, could have remained at the Red Devils for a further two years.
But he would have effectively become a £30m bystander.
United had no intention of paying him any more than a third of that figure to start a new career.
Koeman said in Rooney — who in his time at United won among other trophies five Premier League titles and a Champions League — he was buying a player with a surefire winner’s mentality.
“Wayne has shown me that ambition that we need and that winning mentality — he knows how to win titles and I’m really happy he’s decided to come home,” said Koeman.
“He loves Everton and he was desperate to come back. He is still only 31 and I don’t have any doubts about his qualities. It’s fantastic he’s here.”
Rooney is understood to be prepared to take a significant cut on his £250 000-a-week basic salary at United to make the deal happen.
He met with Toffees boss Koeman, who warned the player he will not tolerate any bad behaviour.
Koeman outlined his football vision including his tough disciplinary code for all of his players.
The Everton boss will not have a drinking culture at his club and believes Rooney can be a positive influence on his crop of talented young players.