Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has revealed signing for Derby County was an opportunity 'too great to turn down' - despite the offers from other clubs.
The shock transfer of the summer was confirmed on Tuesday as it was announced that Rooney would return to England but would be dropping into the Championship with Derby.
The all-time leading United and England goalscorer has penned an 18-month deal with the Rams, with an option for a further year, and will join upon the completion of the MLS season with D.C. United in January.
Rooney will also be taking up a coaching role at Derby as the 33-year-old looks to gain experience to fulfil his desire of becoming a manager once he retires from the game.
Rooney said that the chance to work with new Derby manager Phillip Cocu and play at an 'ambitious' club like Derby couldn't be turned down.
"There was [sic] options there, there was [sic] other clubs who were making offers and enquiring about me," the former United captain said.
"I made the decision to come here and that was it. I wasn't going to go back on my decision, so I think for the last week we have been trying to work out a deal with DC, which allowed me to go back there and play also and then we got to that decision and here we are today.
"The opportunity to work with Phillip and his staff, not only that Derby is a club with great ambitions, I think you've seen over the last few years they're putting a lot of money in the club they're trying to take that next step to get into the Premier League and I felt like it were [sic] the place where I could come in and use my experience to try and help them achieve their goals.
"My agent spoke to the club and the owners here, it become apparent that there was a deal which could happen so I had a decision to make and the opportunity to come back to England and play but also to take up a coaching role with the club and work under Philip was too great for me to turn down.
"I'm delighted to be back here and I'm looking forward to coming back in January and push forward and hopefully push for promotion."
Although the likes of his former England teammates Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are already in management, Rooney insists he is a player first and has no desire to hang his boots up yet.
"That's football, it's what I've done my whole life, it's what I love and until my body says you can't do it no more I'll keep doing it.
"Firstly I'm a player, I feel I've got a lot of quality which I can bring to the squad. So first and foremost I want to come in and play and try and help the team. Secondly, I want to try and learn off Philip and his staff to gain experience for when I do stop playing and go to that next step.
"I think it's great to see them [Gerrard and Lampard] going into management, but it's not just about what they're doing now it's something I've always had the ambition to do.
"It's great that these young English managers are getting the opportunity I feel over the last 15-20 years we haven't seen too many ex-England managers going into management.
"So it's great to see them doing that but it's something which I've always always wanted to do and when that time is right it's something I can hopefully move in to, but before my first aim is to play."
