How Ferguson twice moved to sign Rooney from Everton

Sir Alex Ferguson pursued teenage Wayne Rooney for Manchester United and contacted Everton manager David Moyes to arrange meetings. Moyes said he refused the first request, stating Rooney was not for sale and that he would not allow him to join Chelsea or other clubs. Ferguson accepted the refusal and left it at that. Moyes reported that a few weeks later Ferguson called again and requested another meeting, saying he wanted Rooney and that circumstances had changed. Rooney later explained that Ferguson initially wanted to wait a year, but his strong Euro 2004 performance, including four goals in four matches before a broken foot ended the tournament, increased interest and accelerated the move.

"“I never wanted Wayne to leave,” said Moyes. “The worst was the guy I had looked up to so much, Sir Alex Ferguson, phoned me and said he wanted to meet me at Haydock Thistle Hotel. I was wondering what was that he wanted. “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. However, Moyes revealed it was not long before Ferguson returned with another offer.”"

"“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'.“ Rooney revealed Ferguson had accelerated his interest in signing him after his performance at Euro 2004. The youngster shone for England, scoring four goals in four matches before a broken foot ended his tournament at the quarter-final stage.”"

"“Alex Ferguson wanted to wait a year,” said Rooney. “He wanted to wait another year and then because I'd done so well at the Euros, it was just basically everyone was starting to get in ahead of the other one, then it became”"

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