26 June 2023 , 12:58
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Former Everton midfielder Gylfi Sigudsson could be set for a return to football to reunite with former teammate Wayne Rooney at D.C. United.
The 78-time Iceland international was officially released by the Toffees at the end of the 2021-22 season and has not played in two years. Having spent the majority of his club career in England, a prospective move stateside would see him team up with Rooney once more, with the pair having played together at Goodison Park.
Both players signed for the Blues in the summer of 2017 as part of a flurry of signings under then manager Ronald Koeman, with Sigurdsson and Rooney two of the standout names during that window. However, they would only play one season alongside each other on Merseyside, with the latter moving to the D.C. United after a year with the club he supported as a boy.
The former Manchester United and England captain is now the head coach at the MLS franchise in Washington and it is expected that the 33-year-old ex-Tottenham player will head over to the US to visit the club imminently. According to Icelandic outlet 433.is, talks over a potential deal have 'progressed' in recent days.
The free agent had been linked with a return to playing with Turkish giants Galatasaray upon the expiry of his contract at Everton. However, a deal was not reached in spite of a £1.7m-per-year contract offer having been on the table, as per Marca.
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Sigurdsson made a rare appearance on social media earlier this month, as he featured on his wife's Instagram page in a photograph captioned 'La Familia'. Alexandra Ivarsdotti and the footballer had deactivated their accounts, however, the former Miss Iceland has since reactivated hers and posted the snap to her 16,800 followers.
With D.C. United currently ninth in the MLS Eastern Conference standings, they do still stand a chance of making the play-offs for the Final Series. As it stands they would make the play-offs and so it is unsurprising that Rooney is looking to strengthen his squad when the transfer window opens next month.
Wayne Rooney was appointed manager of DC United in July 2022 (Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)Of course, the Audi Field club will soon take on Inter Miami, the club superstar Lionel Messi is slated to join in the coming weeks. Although the Argentinian forward will sign at the beginning of July, he is not expected to play until July 21 in the Leagues Cup versus Cruz Azul.
Despite the departing superstar's unwavering talents and experience, Rooney has predicted that MLS will not be a walk in the park for the 36-year-old. He told BeIN SPORTS: "It's not going to be easy for him, the league's a difficult league.
"I don't think he's going to come over here and absolutely tear it up immediately. He'll have to adapt because it's a bit different, it won't be an easy ride for him."