With his long-term Manchester United future uncertain, speculation of a dramatic return will only increase.
When Wayne Rooney departed his boyhood club, it probably wasn’t the fairytale ending he had dreamt of as a young Evertonian, watching bright-eyed from the terraces.
Ditching his beloved on Deadline Day in 2004, days after rejecting a new contract and handing in a transfer request at Goodison Park, Rooney rocked up at Manchester United and promptly embarked upon a trophy-laden career that has taken him to finals the continent over and the verge of the club’s all-time scoring charts.
However, with The Red Devils stuttering post-Fergie, the boisterous, barnstorming Rooney that scored for fun and flattened defenders at will has declined suddenly and sharply.
Moments of class have still been forthcoming, his intelligent display against West Ham in the EFL Cup quarter-final recently proved that reports of his demise had been greatly exaggerated. But Everton fans know in the heart of hearts that, if their prodigal son was to ever return, they would not be getting the bonafide world class striker who spearheaded Premier Leagues and Champions League triumphs.
12 years have passed since Rooney’s acrimonious exit, with his influence at Old Trafford waning by the season. But, the question is, would Everton fans accept him back with open arms if the opportunity arose?
The answer is fairly unanimous. After all, ‘once a blue, always a blue’.
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