Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer Wayne Rooney has returned to Goodison Park on a two-year contract, 13 years after leaving for Old Trafford in a £26.5 million deal.
Manchester United let Rooney out of his contract one year early so that he could return to his boyhood club and United players and staff have been full of praise Rooney who won 11 major trophies for the club and will go down as one of the legends of his generation.
Straight after the transfer was sealed, former United team-mate Gary Neville said on Twitter:
‘The best striker I ever played with and saw at the club.’
Neville’s brother Phil, who played for both United and Everton, wrote on his social media page:
‘What a great signing for Everton, good luck Wayne Rooney – left one great club and signed for another great club!!’
Jose Mourinho told United’s official website:
‘It is no secret that I have long been an admirer of Wayne; he has been a model professional throughout his time at the club and will remain in the history books for many years to come.
‘It is never easy to see a great player playing less football than he would like and I could not stand in his way when he asked to go back to Everton. His experience, focus and determination will be missed and I wish him well for the future.’
Meanwhile, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said:
‘Wayne has been a fantastic servant to United since the moment he signed for us as a prodigiously talented, explosive teenager some 13 seasons ago.
‘Who can forget his storybook debut hat trick against Fenerbahce, the spectacular overhead kick against City and the countless match-winning performances in his time here?
‘He goes having created some of the most magical moments in some of the most successful years in the club’s history. Wayne leaves us as our greatest ever goalscorer and having won every major trophy in the game.
‘His record will take decades for anyone to get close to matching and I am extremely grateful for the way he has led from the front since being appointed club captain three years ago.
‘On behalf of the whole club and our hundreds of millions of fans around the world, we wish Wayne all the very best for the next phase of his incredible career.’
‘But after much discussion, the club has decided to accept his request to rejoin his boyhood team.’
What do you think of Wayne Rooney. Does he go down as one of Manchester United’s all-time greats?
