Wayne Rooney, former Man Utd star, says he faced death threats after leaving Everton for the Red Devils.
Wayne Rooney Faced Death Threats After Man Utd Move
When an 18-year-old Wayne Rooney chose to leave his hometown club for Manchester United, he thought he was simply chasing the next step in his career. What he didn’t expect was the storm that followed.
The transfer fee was big and the spotlight even bigger. The reaction from a section of Everton fans turned dark fast. Rooney later shared that threats came his way as soon as the deal became public.
Rooney said: “I got death threats,” on the latest episode of BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show. It was a heavy load for someone still learning the ropes of professional football.
The pressure around young players was already intense long before social media took over the game. He walked into a dressing room full of stars at Old Trafford. Meanwhile, he was dealing with anger from the place he used to call home. That mix could have crushed him, but he pushed through and turned the moment into a career-shaping challenge.
A Different World For Today’s Young Footballers
Rooney also pointed out that today’s players face a whole new kind of pressure. Back then, the backlash stayed mostly local. Now, one wrong step can spread across the world in seconds. Young footballers live with comments, criticism, and jokes flying at them from every corner of the internet.
His story shows how deep emotions run in football towns, and how quickly support can flip when loyalty feels threatened. Even so, his move ended up defining a generation at Manchester United.
Author’s opinion:
Rooney’s honesty gives real insight into how brutal early fame can be. His story is a reminder that talent is only half the journey. The mindset to take on the noise matters as well.
As featured on ManUNews.com
