I got death threats - Wayne Rooney reveals reactions after Everton exit to Manchester United

Former England captain Wayne Rooney has revealed the shocking extent of the backlash he faced after leaving boyhood club Everton to join Manchester United in 2004, admitting he received death threats and that his family’s homes were vandalized following the move.

Speaking on BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show, Rooney described how his £27 million transfer to Old Trafford at the age of just 18 sparked fury among sections of the Everton fanbase, despite the club offering him a record-breaking contract to stay.

He said, “I got death threats. My parents’ house was getting spray-painted and smashed up. My girlfriend at the time, wife now, her house was getting spray-painted.”

Rooney explained that coping with the hostility required resilience and strong support from those closest to him, especially given the fierce rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester.

“I think that’s where you have to be mentally strong. The people around you have to help. Leaving was difficult because I went to Manchester United, and Liverpool and Manchester were a big rivalry, so that made it a lot more difficult,” he added.

Despite the abuse, Rooney remained determined to pursue his ambitions.

“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,” he added.

Rooney also reflected on how the pressures facing young footballers have intensified in the modern era, largely due to social media exposure.

His eldest son, Kai, currently plays in Manchester United’s academy, giving Rooney a firsthand view of how scrutiny now begins at an early age.

“Now the difference is social media,” Rooney explained. “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’s 16 and he’s on social media.

“He plays for Man United, he’s sponsored by Puma, and there are hundreds of thousands or millions of people watching them when they’re that young, and I didn’t have that really.”