Rooney shows where loyalties lie with answer to Man Utd vs Everton question
Wayne Rooney did not pick a side when asked about whether he was supporting Manchester United or Everton in Saturday's Premier League clash at Old Trafford.
Rooney is a boyhood Everton fan and started his career at Goodison Park, making his first-team debut aged 16 in August 2002. He spent two years in the senior set-up at the Toffees before moving to United for £20million plus add-ons - a record transfer fee for a teenager at the time.
The ex-England forward went on to become a legend at the Red Devils, winning 12 major honours including the Champions League once. He made 559 appearances and scored 253 goals before leaving and re-joining Everton following a successful 13-year stint at Old Trafford.
However, Rooney's fairytale return to Everton lasted one season, as he moved to DC United for the 2018 MLS campaign. The 38-year-old retired from professional football in January 2021 after being appointed as the permanent manager of Derby County, where he helped keep them in the Championship.
Now, after further spells in management at DC United and Birmingham, Rooney is out of permanent work and appeared as a pundit for United's Premier League clash against Everton on Saturday. Having spent time as a player at both clubs, Rooney was asked about where his loyalties lie - but the former striker remained neutral.
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Rooney told TNT Sports: "It's always a difficult one for me because I have so much love for both clubs. Obviously Everton are in a bit of a difficult position right now in the league and United aren't where we want them to be. I'm just looking forward to seeing a good game and may the best team win."
Wayne Rooney in action for Everton in April 2018 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)He added: "Listen, I think Everton are in more need of the points and they'll fancy their chances coming here today. United don't seem like they’re in the best of form of late, especially coming off their last two games. It’ll be really important for them."
Rooney captained United for a number of years and led the side to success, despite the slight decline once Sir Alex Ferguson retired in May 2013. However, former team-mate Rio Ferdinand revealed that Rooney was a quiet character during his first couple of seasons at the club.
"He was sometimes quiet, but then sometimes he was a nuisance," Ferdinand said. "A prank could come out at any minute - I remember one time I was walking in with the manager and him and Cristiano, one of them was under a table that had a dressing cloth over the top so you couldn’t see them underneath and one of them rolled a ball through the manager’s legs and he went mad!
"These lot, they were younger and they were a bit crazy but as he got older, he calmed down a bit and was one of the main heads in there."
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