Wayne Rooney reveals he returned to Everton in 2017 to raise children as Toffees fans
Wayne Rooney has revealed his motivation for returning to Everton in 2017 was because he wanted his children to see him playing for the club.
Rooney came through the academy and scored in the Premier League as a 16-year-old, before leaving for Manchester United and becoming their all-time top scorer.
But he returned to the club for one season in 2017 on a free transfer and the current Derby boss told Sky Sports Monday Night Football that he wanted to bring success to the club but his children were also involved in his decision.
“First of all I wanted to go back and try and help Everton be successful,” he said. “But also for my children, I wanted my children to see me playing for Everton and try and bring my children up as Everton fans.
“They make their own decisions, now they’re both Everton and Manchester United which is a bit strange, and Derby yeah, but it was nice to go back.
“I wanted to try and be successful and it was probably the start of when they were spending money, which they’re obviously paying for now, but I just felt it was an opportunity to try and do something with Everton.”
Once a blue…
Rooney is undoubtedly an Everton legend, even though all his career achievements came away from Goodison Park.
He is one of the best footballers to ever play for the club and to see that he still has a huge affiliation with us to the point where he wants his children to have that connection too is humbling to see.
He famously wore a shirt that said, “once a blue, always a blue” during his career and it seems that the statement still rings true for him.
Rooney has made it clear that it is his goal to eventually make it back to Everton for a third time but as a manager in the future, although he admitted that right now wasn’t the right time.
But when that inevitable and eventually happens, the club and fans will know that their future is in the hands of a man who cares deeply for the club.
In other Everton news, Wayne Rooney says Everton ‘must win’ v Burnley, drops demand live on air
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