Football
Mark Ogden, Senior Writer, ESPN FC 7y

Wayne Rooney: 'I am not coming to a retirement home' in return to Everton

Wayne Rooney has insisted that he has not returned to Everton for a "retirement home" after completing his move back to Goodison Park from Manchester United.

The former England captain, who will be 32 in October, signed a two-year contract at his boyhood club following his departure from Old Trafford on a free transfer, 13 years after arriving at United.

Rooney started just 25 games for United last season and lost his place in Gareth Southgate's England squad, but despite the most disappointing campaign of his career, he says he can prove himself once again with Everton.

"I always play like I have a point to prove," Rooney told a news conference. "I'm not coming back into a retirement home. I want to play and I want to win.

"I feel good, and my fitness will build up. I'm excited. It's a challenge, and it is the right time in my career for it.

"With Ronald [Koeman's] ideas and the players the club is bringing in, it's on us to do well. We want to win trophies, but it's down to us as players to do that."

Everton manager Koeman has now signed six new players this summer, including £30 million arrivals Michael Keane and Jordan Pickford.

But the former Southampton manager admits he needed a player with Rooney's experience to accelerate his team's development.

"Everyone knows the qualities of Wayne," Koeman said. "We want to get more productivity; he's a striker, and he can play out of different positions.

"But we like to win trophies, and it's a feeling not all the players here have, especially the younger ones.

"Titles are really important for Wayne and Everton, and that is why we wanted to bring him back. He has experience, and you can either have a team with Wayne Rooney coming out of the tunnel or not. We have that now."

Rooney will make his Goodison comeback when Koeman's team launch their Premier League season at home to Stoke City on Aug. 13, less than a month before he plays at Old Trafford for the first time since leaving United.

And he admits both will be big occasions on a personal level.

"It'll be an emotional day when I play at Goodison again, but once on the pitch, you need to focus," he said. "I'm sure all my family are looking forward to seeing me in a blue shirt again.

"My dad is a huge Evertonian. He has gone to watch me in Manchester for the last 13 years, but he'll have a five-minute drive now, so he's happy.

"As for the United game, I'm going there with Everton to get three points. I had a great time at United, really enjoyed it, but football and players move on.

"I'm at the stage where I needed to make the next step. I knew this was where I needed to play, and I am excited to get out there and play again."

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