Sir Alex Ferguson made two moves to sign Wayne Rooney from Everton
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Rooney eventually joined United from Everton in August 2004 in a deal worth £27 million, but according to Moyes, Ferguson's pursuit began well before the transfer became reality.
Key takeaways
- Ferguson approached Moyes twice over Rooney's transfer.
- Moyes initially refused to sell Everton's teenage star.
- Rooney's Euro 2004 form helped speed up the move.
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Ferguson's first approach was rejected
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, Moyes recalled being summoned to an unexpected meeting by Ferguson, who was already convinced Rooney was the future of United's attack.At the time, Rooney was Everton's brightest young talent and one of the most exciting prospects in European football.
Despite growing interest from several clubs, Moyes had no intention of selling him.
I never wanted Wayne to leave.He explained how Ferguson contacted him and arranged a meeting at the Haydock Thistle Hotel.
The worst was the guy I had looked up to so much, Sir Alex Ferguson, phoned me and said he wanted to meet me. I was wondering what was that he wanted.Moyes said Ferguson accepted the response but sought reassurance that Rooney would not be sold to a rival club.
I got there and there was a room booked and he came in and said, "I want Rooney." I said, "No, he is not for sale. No chance, I am not selling him."
He said, "OK, that's fine but you are not letting him go to Chelsea or anywhere else?" and I said, "No chance."
He said that was fine and left it at that to be fair. He was very straight with me because I told him I didn't want Wayne to go.
Ferguson returned weeks later
The story, however, did not end with that first meeting.Just a few weeks later, Ferguson made contact again and requested another meeting at the same hotel.
Three or four weeks later I get another call and Ferguson said, "I want to meet you are at the same place again because I want Wayne and things have moved on."By then, circumstances surrounding Rooney's future had begun to change, and United were increasingly confident a deal could be done.
Euro 2004 changed everything
Rooney himself believes his performances at Euro 2004 accelerated United's plans.The teenage striker was one of the stars of the tournament, scoring four goals in four matches for England before suffering a broken foot during the quarter-final against Portugal.
His displays attracted widespread attention across Europe and significantly increased competition for his signature.
Alex Ferguson wanted to wait a year.The tournament convinced Ferguson that waiting another season carried too much risk, prompting United to move quickly before rival clubs could gain an advantage.
He wanted to wait another year and then because I'd done so well at the Euros, everyone was starting to get ahead of each other. Then it became inevitable that I was going to go that summer.
A transfer that changed Manchester United
Rooney arrived at Old Trafford as an 18-year-old prodigy and quickly justified the enormous expectations surrounding him.Over the next 13 years, he became United's all-time leading goalscorer, winning five Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League, the FA Cup and numerous other honours.
Moyes may have been reluctant to lose his star player, but Ferguson's persistence ultimately delivered one of the most significant transfers in United's modern history.
More than two decades later, the story behind Rooney's move highlights just how highly Ferguson rated the young Everton forward - enough to make not one, but two personal pitches in pursuit of his signature.
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