National World Top Stories Update Friday 12 December, 2025
Wayne Rooney says he received death threats after leaving Everton for Manchester United as a teenager.
Rooney was 18 when he signed for Man United in 2004 for £27m, turning down a record contract offer from Everton.
The move sparked anger among some fans on Merseyside, but some took things way too far - with death threats aimed at the youngster and his loved ones’ houses being vandalised.
Wayne Rooney joined Manchester United from Everton in 2004.placeholder image
Wayne Rooney joined Manchester United from Everton in 2004. | AFP via Getty Images
Speaking on BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show, he said: “My parents' house was getting spray painted and smashed up. My girlfriend at the time, wife now, her house was getting spray painted.
“I think that's where you have to be mentally strong. The people around you have to help. Leaving was difficult because I went to Manchester United, and Liverpool and Manchester was a big rivalry so that made it a lot more difficult.
“But I was always of a mindset of 'I don't care'. I knew what I wanted and I knew how to get there. I had to stay tough in my mind. This was people from my city so it was tough but I thought 'I don't care', you have to be selfish and make these decisions.”
Rooney went on to play 559 games for Man United, scoring 253 goals and bagging 142 assists in the process. He also picked up 53 goals for England over the course of 120 caps for his country.
He added that the pressure on young players now is perhaps more intense than in his own playing days, with social media not only shaping public reaction but making it far easier to send unwanted messages to footballers.
Rooney’s oldest son, Kai, is 16 and in currently learning his trade Man United’s academy. The former England international is trying to make sure his son has support around him as he navigates media attention at such a young age.
He said: “When I was young, I was in the local newspapers and so everyone in Liverpool really knew me.
“Now I have it with my boy who's 16 and he's on social media. He plays for my United, he's sponsored by Puma and there's hundreds of thousands or millions of people watching them when they're that young, and I didn't have that really.
“Being a young player and going into the first team especially, you're getting judged. Rightly or wrongly, you get judged and that's where you need the people around you, people at the club or your family to keep you in a good place.
“We can all get carried away with social media as well. So it's really important that the people who are close to you have your best interest.”
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