Wayne Rooney was on the verge of joining Newscastle United before signing for Manchester United

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney was one of the best Premier League players. He currently plays for Championship side Derby County and is also one of the assistant coaches.

Wayne Rooney started his Premier League career with Everton and was one of the most sought after talents in Europe. The then 18-year-old signed for Manchester United in a £25m deal in 2004. He then went on to become the club’s record goalscorer after 13 hugely successful years at the club.

But Rooney’s fate could have been different. He was going to sign for Newcastle United before joining Manchester United. On the other hand, Everton was pushing him for a Chelsea move.

Rooney1 Wayne Rooney was on the verge of joining Newscastle United before signing for Manchester United

Rooney said on the UTD Podcast: “I knew it [joining United] was an option before Euro 2004. I knew Manchester United wanted to sign me. I think going to the Euros, and doing well there, probably added a bit more money onto the transfer fee but I broke my foot and found out a few things.”

“Everton were really struggling for money at the time and I found out they were listening to offers from people as well. They were trying to push me to sign for Chelsea because they were going to pay the most money. But, once I knew United were interested, I wanted some confirmation that they did want to sign me.”

“Once I knew they did want to sign me, it was the only club [for me].”

“It was a perfect fit for me. United actually wanted to wait a year, until the following year, but then Newcastle came into talks with Everton and with myself. I’d gone too far then. I couldn’t wait another year, I couldn’t stay another year at Everton, so I was prepared to go to Newcastle for that year.”

“I spoke to them, we spoke about the salary and what I wanted. [I told them if] I went there and Manchester United came in, they’d have to let me go. Newcastle were agreeing to that but obviously, with United, I went back to them and said, if you don’t do it now, I’ll go to Newcastle with a clause in place. United obviously didn’t want me to go there so I came here.”

“It was basically whatever Newcastle paid for me, United would have paid a year later.”

Manchester United were lucky to get their hands on one of the best generational talents.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

More like this

Hugo Ekitike: Could He Be The Dynamic Frontman Who Could End Manchester United’s Striker Crisis?

Hugo Ekitike: Could He Be The Dynamic Frontman Who...

Manchester United’s attacking frailties have been on full display this season. Despite possessing some of Europe’s most...
5 Footballers Who Played for Both Manchester United and Manchester City

Top 5 Footballers Who Played for Both Manchester United...

In this blog post, we’ll explore the fascinating stories of footballers who played for Manchester United and...
PL 2024-25: Manchester United vs Manchester City - Preview, Prediction, Starting XI and Where To Watch The Match LIVE

PL 2024-25: Manchester United vs Manchester City – Preview,...

We preview Sunday’s Premier League clash at Old Trafford and share our prediction for the Manchester United...

Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani net worth: How much...

Qatari Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the chairman of the Qatar Islamic Bank, has placed a...

Premier League 2024-25: Chelsea vs Tottenham – Preview, Prediction...

Chelsea look to secure their top-four position in a London derby. Here's our preview and prediction for...

LATEST NEWS

iPhone Prices Could Soar to $2,300 in the U.S. Due to New Tariffs, Analyst Warns

iPhone Prices : In a dramatic move shaking up global tech markets, U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping new tariffs on imports from multiple...

OPPO Pad SE Spotted with 9,098mAh Battery, Helio G99 SoC

OPPO appears to be developing a new tablet, the OPPO Pad SE, which is expected to launch in both Wi-Fi and LTE variants. The...

India exported iPhones to US more than ever this March 2025

India's bumper export of iPhones to US: Imagine walking into a bustling tech store in Mumbai, the air buzzing with excitement as customers eagerly...

Ultimate EA FC25 Tu Eres Mi Idolo Evolution Guide: Transform Average Players into Superstars

The latest evolution system in EA FC25 has changed the landscape of Ultimate Team, offering players unprecedented opportunities to transform their favorite cards into...

Featured