Wayne Rooney Returns To Everton After 13 Years At Manchester United

Source: thewillnigeria.com

Manchester United forward, Wayne Rooney, has rejoined Everton on a free transfer, 13 years after leaving the Merseyside club.

Rooney, 31, played 559 times for the Red Devils, scoring 253 goals and won five Premier League titles and each of the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup once after joining from the Toffees for £27m in 2004.

Rooney said he was ecstatic and that his first game back will be an emotional day.

“It’s a great feeling to be back. I cannot wait to meet the lads, get on the training pitch and then get on the pitch to play,” he said.

“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.”

Rooney said he told his agent to “go and speak to them, let’s make it happen” when he found out Everton were interested in signing him and it “was obvious I was going to be leaving Manchester United this summer”.

“There were other options there but once I knew that Everton wanted me to come back then it was the only option for me,” he added.

Rooney, who was often left out of United’s starting line-up by manager Jose Mourinho last season, appeared in 25 league games – the fewest he has played in one season. His total of eight goals in all competitions was also the lowest of his career.

He was an unused substitute as United beat Southampton to win the EFL Cup in February, and made only a brief appearance at the end of the Europa League final victory over Ajax in May.

In his 13 seasons with United, he finished as top scorer five times and shared the honour with Cristiano Ronaldo in another campaign. He was also named fans’ player of the year twice.