Wayne Rooney has recently shed light on his past legal confrontation with his former manager, David Moyes, more than 16 years after Moyes initiated legal action against him. Moyes, who gave Rooney his debut at Everton in 2002, was instrumental in the early stages of Rooney’s career. Just two years later, Rooney made a high-profile move to Manchester United for a then-record fee of £30 million, catching the attention of the football world.
The relationship between Rooney and Moyes became strained in 2008 when Moyes sued Rooney over claims made in Rooney’s autobiography, “My Story So Far.” This marked an unprecedented moment in football history, as it was the first time a manager accused a player of libel. Rooney expressed regret over the incident, acknowledging the impact it had on their relationship.
In an interview with Gary Neville on “The Overlap,” sponsored by Sky Bet, Rooney reflected on his actions, stating, “David Moyes was really good for me at Everton. He sued me after I left the club – I hammered him when I left because of how I felt at the time.” As Rooney matured, he came to understand Moyes’ perspective and motivations.
He reached out to Moyes to apologize, realizing that Moyes, a young manager at the time, was navigating the complexities of handling a star player. “I spoke to him a few years after I left, I called him up and apologized, because the older you get, you realize why he was doing things,” Rooney shared. “He was a young mana.