Wayne Rooney will make his controversial return to the England setup tomorrow night when he faces the U.S.A in a friendly at Wembley, but while the Three Lions’ greatest goalscorer will wave goodbye to the England fans for the final time, he has chosen this week as a time to open about his life in English football.
A move to the MLS has seen Rooney sparkle for D.C United, but the striker’s finest displays came in a Manchester United shirt between 2004-17 and the 33-year-old has taken the opportunity on his return to his homeland to talk about his glittering career.
Having burst on to the scene as a teenager at Everton, Rooney made a big-money move to Manchester United and went on to play for over a decade as one of the biggest clubs in world football before he moved back to the Toffees 13 years later in what was a move that shocked many.
However, speaking to Manchester United Football club in an interview that will be available on the Manchester United App at 12:00pm on Thursday, Rooney has explained why he felt it was the right time to leave Old Trafford last season.
Rooney said: “I wasn’t playing, first of all. I have always been a player who wants to play. Obviously I spoke to the manager [Jose Mourinho] and it didn’t look like I was going to play, so it was the right decision and the right time for me to go. Obviously, you wish, the ideal situation was staying there and finishing your career there, but football changes. Different things happen and things happen for a reason.”
Speaking from the heart, Rooney praised the Manchester United fans for their support when he returned to Theatre Of Dreams with Everton last season, he said, “The fans give me a great reception every time I go back and when I went back with Everton. That was a nice moment. I had some great moments and obviously the testimonial.”
Rooney is excited to return to Old Trafford now the US season has ended and he is looking forward to watching a match over the festive period. “It will be nice to see a few familiar faces when I go to a game over Christmas,” concluded the footballing legend.