“it is about the pride and….” Wayne Rooney explains why he left Everton to a better Club in his transfer to Manchester United in 2004

Wayne Rooney, the former Everton and Manchester United forward, has revealed the significant role Liverpool played in his transfer to Old Trafford in 2004. In an interview on The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast, Rooney explained how his desire to beat Liverpool and win trophies led him to join Manchester United.

Growing up as an Evertonian, Rooney had a natural distaste for Liverpool, which only intensified during his playing career. He admitted that his best way of getting back at Liverpool fans was for Manchester United to win, and when he knew United were interested in signing him, he was determined to join the club.

Rooney’s transfer to Manchester United was a significant moment in his career, and he went on to play 559 times for the club, scoring 253 goals and providing 139 assists. He won 12 major trophies, including five Premier League titles, and left the club in 2017 as their all-time top scorer, breaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s record.

Despite his successful playing career, Rooney’s managerial career has been less successful. He spent nearly two years at Derby County, where he won just 28% of his games, and had a brief spell at DC United in the MLS. His most recent outing as Birmingham City manager was highly criticized, and he was sacked after just 15 games.

Rooney’s revelation about Liverpool’s role in his transfer to Manchester United is a fascinating insight into the intense rivalry between the two clubs. The Merseyside derby is one of the most famous and fierce in world football, and Rooney’s comments highlight the depth of feeling between the two clubs.

For Everton fans, Rooney’s transfer to Manchester United was a bitter pill to swallow. He was a prodigious talent who had risen through the ranks at Goodison Park and was seen as a future star. His departure was a significant blow to the club, and many fans felt betrayed by his decision to join their arch-rivals.

However, Rooney’s comments make it clear that his desire to win trophies and beat Liverpool was a major factor in his decision. He grew up watching Manchester United’s dominant teams of the 1990s and early 2000s, and he was determined to be part of a team that could challenge for major honors.

Rooney’s transfer to Manchester United was a turning point in his career, and he went on to achieve great success at the club. However, his comments about Liverpool’s role in his transfer will be seen as a reminder of the intense rivalry between the two clubs and the lengths to which players will go to achieve success.

In the world of football, rivalries are what make the game so compelling. The Merseyside derby is one of the most famous and intense in the world, and Rooney’s comments highlight the depth of feeling between the two clubs. For fans of both clubs, the rivalry is about more than just winning or losing – it’s about pride, passion, and a sense of identity.

Rooney’s revelation about Liverpool’s role in his transfer to Manchester United is a reminder that, even at the highest level, football is a game of passion and emotion. Players like Rooney, who have grown up with a deep-seated rivalry, are driven to succeed not just for themselves, but for their fans and their community.

In the end, Rooney’s transfer to Manchester United was a success for all parties involved. He achieved great things at the club, and his legacy continues to be felt to this day. However, his comments about Liverpool’s role in his transfer will be seen as a reminder of the intense rivalry between the two clubs and the lengths to which players will go to achieve success.

The Merseyside derby is a fixture that is steeped in history and tradition. It’s a game that is about more than just winning or losing – it’s about pride, passion, and a sense of identity. For fans of both clubs, the rivalry is what makes the game so compelling, and Rooney’s comments are a reminder that, even at the highest level, football is a game of passion and emotion.

In the world of football, rivalries like the Merseyside derby are what make the game so special. They bring out the best in players and fans alike, and they create a sense of community and belonging that is hard to find elsewhere. Rooney’s comments about Liverpool’s role in his transfer to Manchester United are a reminder that, even at the highest level, football is a game of passion and emotion, and that rivalries like the Merseyside derby are what make the game so compelling.