Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney said he told Sir Alex Ferguson to “f*** off” when the Scotsman first tried to sign Rooney as a 14-year-old.
At the time, England’s highest ever goalscorer was surging through the Everton ranks as a child prodigy. While the Red Devils eventually signed the hitman when he first started making inroads into David Moyes’ Toffees’ side, the Reds tried to make their move before he was even old enough to agree adult terms.
Ferguson’s eye for young talent was masterful and he instantly decided Rooney would be his man to spearhead United’s attack. However, the now Derby County manager revealed he took some real convincing to swap Goodison Park for Old Trafford.
"Sir Alex Ferguson tried to sign me when I was 14. He was on the phone to my mum and dad,” Rooney said in an interview with the Sun. “They said, ‘Alex is on the phone, Manchester United want to sign you’.
"I said, ‘Tell him to f*** off. I want to play for Everton’. Then as time went on, I knew I had to play for Alex Ferguson. The reason I signed for United was Alex Ferguson.”
United eventually signed Rooney in a monumental deal worth £23m when he was only 18-years-old. He went on to become Manchester United’s highest ever goalscorer with 253 goals and 146 assists in 559 appearances for the Red Devils, winning five Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup and three League Cups.
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As well as enshrining himself in Manchester United history, Rooney also went on to become England’s top goalscorer with 53 goals in 120 appearances for the Three Lions. However, Rooney’s relationship with Ferguson during their eight years together could best be described as rocky at best.
The pair endured many fallings out together with the biggest of which coming in 2010 when Rooney stated a desire to depart Old Trafford. After describing Rooney’s news as something which hit United “like a ton of bricks” Rooney clarified his decision stating he felt United may not be able to attract top players anymore.
“I met with (chief executive) David Gill last week and he did not give me any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad,” Rooney in a statement in 2010. “I then told him that I would not be signing a new contract.”
Despite strong interest from Chelsea, Rooney decided to perform a U-turn and commit his future at United. He remained at Old Trafford until the summer of 2017 when he returned to Everton on a free transfer.
Rooney eventually hung up his boots in July 2021 when he went on to become the new Derby County manager. And Ferguson quickly responded to the new by tipping his former hitman for a successful career in management.
“He’s England’s top goalscorer, Manchester United’s top goalscorer, and he’s had a fantastic career as a player,” Ferguson said at ‘A team Talk With Legends charity event in January 2021.
“It’ll give him a starting point, ‘Like everyone else, myself, Kenny [Dalglish], Gareth [Southgate], it’s a results industry. You need to get results.
“He’ll know better than anyone. ‘He’s got knowledge of the game, there’s no question about that.
"He’s got a presence about him. It’s a big step for him.”
