Patrick Rees
Captain Wayne Rooney has arrived at Everton’s training ground Finch Farm and is set to make a move back to his boyhood club, as per the reports from Sky Sports.
The 31-year-old veteran was pictured arriving at the Toffees’ training ground on Saturday, just hours after Manchester United completed a move to sign Romelu Lukaku from the Goodison Park. In a footage, shown by Sky Sports, our captain was seen arriving at Everton’s base ahead of this move.
It was earlier reported that United agreeing a deal to sign Romelu Lukaku has nothing to do with Rooney traveling to the other way, but the aforementioned source has now confirmed that Rooney is the part of that deal which saw the Belgian sealing his move to Old Trafford.
BREAKING NEWS: Wayne Rooney arrives at Everton training ground ahead of move from Manchester United https://t.co/to5FYDTqWL
— Sky Football ⚽️ (@SkyFootball) 8 July 2017
Rumours of Rooney moving back to Everton haven’t just came out of the blues, as even back in February, several media outlets claimed that Everton are looking forward to this deal. Manager Ronald Koeman was asked about the same and he expressed his desire of having Rooney on his ranks, saying, “he is one of the players who can make Everton more stronger.” (Guardian)
For Rooney, however, it will be a step back in terms of wages. He was earning a massive £300,000-a-week at United, and it is now quoted that he has accepted to take a big pay cut in order to seal the deal. Former Everton midfielder Peter Reid, who won two league titles with the club in the 1980s, took to Twitter and said, “welcome home lad”.
Rooney will not only see his wages shrinking in, but he will also be working under the watching eyes of a manager who is known for his uncompromising decisions for the players who enjoy flashy lifestyles off the field. During his Valencia tenure, the Dutchman literally cut the comedy of the likes of captain David Albelda, Santiago Canizares and Miguel Angel Angelo only because he didn’t like their attitudes. Furthermore, while at Southampton, he dropped Sadio Mane after he came late for a team meeting.
Rooney, who only managed 15 Premier League starts last season, became Manchester United’s all-time top scorer and will be leaving Old Trafford after 13 years, during which, he made more than 500 appearances, scoring 253 goals.
