‘Tis truly the end of an era.
After 13 years at Manchester United, during which he won five Premier League titles, one Champions League and became their all-time top goalscorer, Wayne Rooney has finally returned to the club that birthed him unto the world.
Everton have today confirmed that the 31-year-old has completed his grand return to Goodison Park on a free transfer as part of the much, much more expensive deal that will see Romelu Lukaku sign for United in return.
The Blues announced the return of their prodigal son with a rather lovely little video…
🔵 | Once a Blue… #WelcomeHomeWayne pic.twitter.com/PAkv1qeBsY
— Everton (@Everton) July 9, 2017
Rooney also managed to snag a photo with Everton’s formidable welcome committee…
💙 | #WelcomeHomeWayne pic.twitter.com/Jmr4CAdUAv
— Everton (@Everton) July 9, 2017
United also waved him off in fitting style, producing a four-minute highlight reel of his decade-and-a-bit at Old Trafford…
Our special video celebrates @WayneRooney‘s 13 years at #MUFC… #FarewellToALegend pic.twitter.com/ZpQn3kRpZ1
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 9, 2017
Thank you @ManUtd ❤️ https://t.co/HxW7wd5bMd
— Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) July 9, 2017
And so a new, and possibly final chapter opens in the career of Wayne Rooney, back among the familiar confines of his boyhood club, the club he’s supported all his life. Imagine the positive impact having him around will have on Everton’s current crop of younglings.
Here’s hoping he enjoys a new lease of life – by heck he’s overdue, having become more than a little stagnant during his final two seasons with United.
The misty-eyed, nostalgic nature of the transfer almost forces you think about his early days, right through the first two thirds of his career. It’s easy to forget just how wild, exciting and supremely talented he was as a youngster, before the early peak began to plateau.
The stuff dreams are made of: Wayne Rooney with his personalised Ford Ka
The goals, the spontaneity, the barely-concealed animal violence, the hype, the success, the adulation – it all seems so long ago now. One last hurrah at his beloved Everton would certainly be a fitting manner in which to bow out.
One things for sure, history will definitely be kinder to Rooney than social media has ever been.