Dark Savante
05 Sep 2004, 06:58 AM
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/images/01roo_92.jpg
EXCLUSIVE: Wayne Rooney
arrives at Old Trafford
Fergie won't let me
touch the trophies
By James Fletcher
HIS Manchester United career is just over 100 hours old — yet Wayne Rooney is already itching to get his hands on the European Cup.
He also fancies the Premiership trophy, the FA Cup, the League Cup and every other piece of silverware in the Old Trafford museum.
But the 18-year-old strike sensation has already been warned — just like every other United player: You aren't allowed to touch anything you haven't won!
Sport of the World teamed up with Rooney just hours after his dream £30million move to Manchester United for a rare glimpse of Old Trafford's inner sanctum.
And Rooney said: "This is what it is all about for me.
"When you go to any club — but especially Manchester United — you go into the trophy room and look at what they have won.
"When you see that many trophies it just makes you that much more ambitious.
Massive
"It makes you want to go on and win them yourself.
"The manager has a thing here where he won't let players touch the trophies until you have won it.
"I think that is right. I think if you don't win the trophy you don't deserve to lift it.
"It should be left to the team that won it because it is such a massive thing.
"Now I look around the United dressing room and see there are plenty of players there who have won the right to lift trophies and I think I can be part of that team.
"That is unbelievable — now I have to earn my right to get my hands on some silverware.
"I watched Everton beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final when I was nine or 10.
"It was an amazing day, brilliant. We went down on the coach and then, when we won, travelling back on the coach was unbelievable. The noise was frightening!
"It was always an ambition from then to come back on the winning team coach."
Shock
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/images/01roo_03.jpg
Rooney's incredible move has not really sunk in yet.
From signing late on Tuesday night, just before the transfer deadline, he hasn't stopped.
But he paused for thought to reveal to Sport of the World his true feelings behind his controversial switch.
He added: "It has all happened so quickly. In two or three days my world has been turned upside down.
"I know when I sit down, it will really shock me to think I am playing for a massive club like Man U.
"It has been a hell of a 24 months or so for me. First with Everton, then England and now United — it couldn't have been any better.
"To play for Everton was a dream for me as an Everton fan — but to think I have now joined one of the biggest clubs in the world and I am playing for my country every time.
"It's amazing. It was a tough decision but I spoke with my agent Paul Stretford and told him what the situation was, where I wanted to go and let him get on with it.
"Then on Monday he phoned and said it was close to getting done.
"When he phoned me the night before I was just in the house, relaxing.
"He told me he thought they were close to agreeing a deal and I was buzzing.
"I was so excited, I tried to get to bed but I was up at 5am. I just wanted to get to the ground and get it done.
"I guess there were times when I had my doubts that it would happen as quick as it did because everything got jammed into a couple of days.
"I think Everton were stalling a little bit because they didn't want to lose me as a player, which every manager has the right to do.
"But it all worked out eventually and I was so happy.
"I know it is difficult for the Everton fans because I have left but there were only three teams I would have considered leaving Everton for and I have joined one of the biggest clubs.I thought the time was right to come to Manchester United.
"Once I knew they were interested there was never any doubt that I wanted to come here.
"I hope the fans at Everton will one day understand my reasons for leaving. They were brilliant to me when I was there and it was tough making my mind up to leave.
Spirit
"Obviously, there were going to be a few fans who wouldn't accept it no matter what — but their reaction hasn't spoiled my move."
Rooney also revealed that now he is back in training he just wants to get playing again.
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/images/01roo_05.jpg
He added: "My first day seemed strange. The first person I saw was Scholesy — which was good because, obviously, I know him from England.
"Then a few more turned up — Rio Ferdinand, Roy Keane, Giggsy, Ruud, just a whole load of world-class players! When I first walked into the dressing room you could see straight away what United is about — the foreign lads messing about with the English lads, everyone was having a laugh so you can see the spirit, see how close all the players are.
"On my first day they showed me around so I knew where I was going. Then I was allowed to get on with my training, a bit of running and that. I have been given a personal fitness programme and everything else will get introduced over the next few days.
"There isn't enough time to do it all on the first day.
"I actually started doing some ball work on Friday and, hopefully, I can step that up a bit and have no problems and be fit for selection in three weeks.
"It was a great feeling to have a ball at my feet again.
"I guess you could say I am fed up talking about it now, I just want to start playing for United, to run out in front of the fans and play my first game at Old Trafford — hopefully score them a goal."
Rooney will be moving to Cheshire in the coming weeks but already he insists he feels part of the United fold-arguably the tightest dressing room in the country.
He is also dealing remarkably well with the Roo mania that has swept Old Trafford-now he is hoping for a dream debut against his bitter rivals Liverpool-to seal his dream summer.
He added: "When I first walked into the dressing room you could see straight away what United is about, the foreign lads messing about with the English lads, everyone was having a laugh so you can see the spirit, see how close all the players are.
"There is obviously loads of fans who want your autograph, or want pictures took with you and that is what it is all about, the fans. They pay good money to watch football and without them the game wouldn't be as big as it is now.
"I think it's brilliant when you get little kids, grown men, coming up asking for your autograph, you get a buzz out of it.
"My first priority though, my only priority is to get fit and then get into the team, do well and keep my place and try and help United bring the trophies back.
"It would be my absolute dream to be fit to make debut against Liverpool, that would be massive but I don't think I will be ready for that game. I will probably be in full training a week later but I will be nagging them to play me in that game. I am not sure they will listen though."
EXCLUSIVE: Wayne Rooney
arrives at Old Trafford
Fergie won't let me
touch the trophies
By James Fletcher
HIS Manchester United career is just over 100 hours old — yet Wayne Rooney is already itching to get his hands on the European Cup.
He also fancies the Premiership trophy, the FA Cup, the League Cup and every other piece of silverware in the Old Trafford museum.
But the 18-year-old strike sensation has already been warned — just like every other United player: You aren't allowed to touch anything you haven't won!
Sport of the World teamed up with Rooney just hours after his dream £30million move to Manchester United for a rare glimpse of Old Trafford's inner sanctum.
And Rooney said: "This is what it is all about for me.
"When you go to any club — but especially Manchester United — you go into the trophy room and look at what they have won.
"When you see that many trophies it just makes you that much more ambitious.
Massive
"It makes you want to go on and win them yourself.
"The manager has a thing here where he won't let players touch the trophies until you have won it.
"I think that is right. I think if you don't win the trophy you don't deserve to lift it.
"It should be left to the team that won it because it is such a massive thing.
"Now I look around the United dressing room and see there are plenty of players there who have won the right to lift trophies and I think I can be part of that team.
"That is unbelievable — now I have to earn my right to get my hands on some silverware.
"I watched Everton beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final when I was nine or 10.
"It was an amazing day, brilliant. We went down on the coach and then, when we won, travelling back on the coach was unbelievable. The noise was frightening!
"It was always an ambition from then to come back on the winning team coach."
Shock
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/images/01roo_03.jpg
Rooney's incredible move has not really sunk in yet.
From signing late on Tuesday night, just before the transfer deadline, he hasn't stopped.
But he paused for thought to reveal to Sport of the World his true feelings behind his controversial switch.
He added: "It has all happened so quickly. In two or three days my world has been turned upside down.
"I know when I sit down, it will really shock me to think I am playing for a massive club like Man U.
"It has been a hell of a 24 months or so for me. First with Everton, then England and now United — it couldn't have been any better.
"To play for Everton was a dream for me as an Everton fan — but to think I have now joined one of the biggest clubs in the world and I am playing for my country every time.
"It's amazing. It was a tough decision but I spoke with my agent Paul Stretford and told him what the situation was, where I wanted to go and let him get on with it.
"Then on Monday he phoned and said it was close to getting done.
"When he phoned me the night before I was just in the house, relaxing.
"He told me he thought they were close to agreeing a deal and I was buzzing.
"I was so excited, I tried to get to bed but I was up at 5am. I just wanted to get to the ground and get it done.
"I guess there were times when I had my doubts that it would happen as quick as it did because everything got jammed into a couple of days.
"I think Everton were stalling a little bit because they didn't want to lose me as a player, which every manager has the right to do.
"But it all worked out eventually and I was so happy.
"I know it is difficult for the Everton fans because I have left but there were only three teams I would have considered leaving Everton for and I have joined one of the biggest clubs.I thought the time was right to come to Manchester United.
"Once I knew they were interested there was never any doubt that I wanted to come here.
"I hope the fans at Everton will one day understand my reasons for leaving. They were brilliant to me when I was there and it was tough making my mind up to leave.
Spirit
"Obviously, there were going to be a few fans who wouldn't accept it no matter what — but their reaction hasn't spoiled my move."
Rooney also revealed that now he is back in training he just wants to get playing again.
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/images/01roo_05.jpg
He added: "My first day seemed strange. The first person I saw was Scholesy — which was good because, obviously, I know him from England.
"Then a few more turned up — Rio Ferdinand, Roy Keane, Giggsy, Ruud, just a whole load of world-class players! When I first walked into the dressing room you could see straight away what United is about — the foreign lads messing about with the English lads, everyone was having a laugh so you can see the spirit, see how close all the players are.
"On my first day they showed me around so I knew where I was going. Then I was allowed to get on with my training, a bit of running and that. I have been given a personal fitness programme and everything else will get introduced over the next few days.
"There isn't enough time to do it all on the first day.
"I actually started doing some ball work on Friday and, hopefully, I can step that up a bit and have no problems and be fit for selection in three weeks.
"It was a great feeling to have a ball at my feet again.
"I guess you could say I am fed up talking about it now, I just want to start playing for United, to run out in front of the fans and play my first game at Old Trafford — hopefully score them a goal."
Rooney will be moving to Cheshire in the coming weeks but already he insists he feels part of the United fold-arguably the tightest dressing room in the country.
He is also dealing remarkably well with the Roo mania that has swept Old Trafford-now he is hoping for a dream debut against his bitter rivals Liverpool-to seal his dream summer.
He added: "When I first walked into the dressing room you could see straight away what United is about, the foreign lads messing about with the English lads, everyone was having a laugh so you can see the spirit, see how close all the players are.
"There is obviously loads of fans who want your autograph, or want pictures took with you and that is what it is all about, the fans. They pay good money to watch football and without them the game wouldn't be as big as it is now.
"I think it's brilliant when you get little kids, grown men, coming up asking for your autograph, you get a buzz out of it.
"My first priority though, my only priority is to get fit and then get into the team, do well and keep my place and try and help United bring the trophies back.
"It would be my absolute dream to be fit to make debut against Liverpool, that would be massive but I don't think I will be ready for that game. I will probably be in full training a week later but I will be nagging them to play me in that game. I am not sure they will listen though."