Eberechi Eze would’ve seen Manchester United’s iconic battles with Arsenal growing up.
The Englishman has always admitted that he is an Arsenal fan, and he finally got his dream move to the Gunners on Saturday.
Eze has been speaking about his younger days since signing for the North Londoners, and it is clear that he has always loved Arsenal.
But his hero at international level was and still is a Manchester United icon.
Eberechi Eze says Wayne Rooney is his England hero
Wayne Rooney is one of the greatest players English football has ever seen.
The now 39-year-old burst onto the scene as a teenager, and his impressive performances there earned him a £27 million move to Manchester United in 2004 [BBC].
Rooney went on to become an icon for the Red Devils, and he is still their record goalscorer.
Everyone remembers the brilliant player Rooney was for Manchester United, but not a lot is said about what he did for England back in the day.
Wayne Rooney in action for England
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Until Harry Kane broke his record, Rooney was the Three Lions’ record goalscorer as well, and that made him a role model for many in the country, including Eze.
Speaking on the Three Lions’ social channels, the new Arsenal number 10 was asked to name his ‘England hero’.
He replied: “Rooney! Just the guy, man!
“Everyone looked to him to solve the problems, to create something, to be that guy for the team. So, as a number 10, he’s a special player for me.”
Wayne Rooney once tried to sign Eberechi Eze
Rooney hasn’t quite had the same success as a manager as he did when he was a player.
The English icon started his managerial career as a player/coach at Derby County before taking that job full-time in January 2021.
Rooney came up against Eberechi Eze, who was at Queens Park Rangers at the time, and the Manchester United legend admitted that he wanted to sign him.
He told Bleacher Report in February 2024, as reported by TBR Football: “There’s been so many over the past few years, top players, coming out of the Championship.
“I remember that I actually tried to sign Eze when I was at Derby as a player. He ran past me and I said to him: ‘I need to speak to you at the end of the game.’”