Wayne Rooney nearly signed for surprise Premier League club before Man Utd swooped in

Martin Macdonald

• 31 Oct 2025 11:00 CDT
• 2 min read

News

Wayne Rooney has confirmed that he was close to joining Newcastle before Man Utd swooped in.

The Englishman signed for Man Utd in 2004 at the age of just 18 after emerging as a generational talent at Everton.

He would go on to become the Red Devils' greatest ever goalscorer as well as England's top scorer, though the latter record has since been taken by Harry Kane.

While at Man Utd, Rooney won five Premier League titles, one FA Cup, three League Cups, one Champions League, one Europa League and one Club World Cup title.

He rejoined Everton in 2017 before short periods at D.C. United and Derby County and after retirement he became a manager then a pundit.

In 2004, Newcastle were close to securing his signature as Man Utd initially wanted to wait until a year later and he even had a conversational with the legend that is Sir Bobby Robson, then the Magpies manager.

"I would have certainly went [to Newcastle]," he said on BBC's The Wayne Rooney Show.

"Manchester United wanted to wait a season and then sign me the year after they did sign me. Newcastle put a bid in and if Manchester United hadn't come in, I would have gone to Newcastle.

"Those two were bidding against each other. My agent's best mate was chairman at Newcastle at the time! So I'm sure he was getting nudged to try to get me as well.

"I wanted to go to Manchester United, but I spoke with Sir Bobby Robson and Alan Shearer. In true Bobby Robson style, on the phone he called me 'Mark'. I thought he had either forgotten my name or he was a genius - because that's my middle name."

Rooney faster than Ronaldo?

Rooney was team-mates with Cristiano Ronaldo at Man Utd and many fans would assume the latter was the faster player at the club, as CR7 is a speed demon with the ball at his feet.

However, it was actually Rooney, then Owen Hargreaves, who were the quickest.

"We’d done tests at over 30 yards I think it was, and I was topping that and Owen Hargreaves was second," he revealed.

"Owen was quicker than when people think. so yeah, I was, I was faster than that. But there's all different aspects in, in football. Cristiano obviously dribbling with the ball is really quick, Ryan Giggs dribbling with the ball. Some players seemed quicker with the ball and then without it as well."

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