Wayne Rooney’s death threats story has resurfaced as the former England striker opened up about the backlash he faced after leaving Everton for Manchester United.
Former England international Wayne Rooney has opened up about one of the most difficult periods of his early career, revealing that he received serious death threats after leaving his boyhood club, Everton, to sign for Manchester United in 2004. Rooney was only 18 at the time, and what should have been the biggest step forward in his career quickly turned into a deeply hostile environment for him and his loved ones.
His transfer to United, worth £27 million, instantly provoked anger among sections of the Everton fanbase. Although he had turned down a record contract to stay at the club, Rooney believed moving to Manchester United was the right step for his growth as a young footballer. That decision, however, came with consequences he was not fully prepared for.
Speaking on the latest episode of BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show, he said, “I got death threats. My parents’ house was getting spray-painted and smashed up. My girlfriend at the time, wife now, had her house getting spray-painted.”
The hostility escalated quickly, creating a tense atmosphere around him as he prepared to start a new chapter at Old Trafford. Rooney explained that he had to rely heavily on mental toughness during that time. The pressure did not come from strangers far away; it came from people in the same city where he had grown up, people who once cheered for him as a local hero.
Rooney described these moments as emotionally challenging but said he remained focused on what he believed was best for his future. “I think that is where you have to be mentally strong. The people around you have to help. Leaving was difficult because I went to Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester was a big rivalry, so that made it a lot more difficult.”
Despite the heated backlash, Rooney made it clear that he never doubted the move. “But I was always of a mindset of ‘I don’t care’. I knew what I wanted, and I knew how to get there. I had to stay tough in my mind. This was people from my city, so it was tough, but I thought I don’t care, you have to be selfish and make these decisions.”
Today, Rooney sees the pressures faced by young players through a different lens, especially as his oldest son, Kai Rooney, is following the same path at Manchester United’s academy. Rooney has become even more aware of how intense the modern football world can be for teenagers trying to build their careers.
He explained that the environment has changed drastically since he was a young player. Rooney said, “Now the difference is social media. When I was young, I was in the local newspapers, and so everyone in Liverpool really knew me. Now I have it with my boy, who is 16, and he is on social media. He plays for my United, he is sponsored by Puma, and there are hundreds of thousands or millions of people watching them when they are that young, and I didn’t have that really.”
He stressed that young talents today are judged constantly, often by people who have never seen them play in real life. The scrutiny begins much earlier, and the spotlight is much brighter.
“Being a young player and going into the first team, especially, you are getting judged. Rightly or wrongly, you get judged, and that is where you need the people around you, people at the club or your family, to keep you in a good place.”
Rooney also pointed out the temptation and pressure that come with online attention. With social media amplifying everything, mistakes spread fast, and praise can become overwhelming. For him, the most important thing is ensuring that the people closest to a young player truly have their best interests at heart. “We can all get carried away with social media as well. So it is really important that the people who are close to you have your best interests. It is the main thing.”
Rooney’s reflection paints a clear picture of the harsh realities behind major football transfers, the emotional cost of fame, and the evolving pressures in modern football. His story is not only about what he endured but also about the lessons he hopes to pass on to the next generation, including his own son.
