The transfer fee repaid itself several times over, with Rooney<\/a> going on to win the Champions League<\/a> with United, and five Premier League titles.<\/p>\n The move came after United had finished in an unusually low third position in 2003\/04<\/a>. Even with winning the FA Cup, it was clear the Red Devils<\/a> needed to make some moves.<\/p>\n Signing Wayne Rooney was a statement of intent, and a transfer that Sir Alex Ferguson<\/a> believed was a guarantee for future success. He wasn\u2019t wrong.<\/p>\n Manchester United swooped to sign Wayne Rooney after his spectacular performances for England at Euro 2004, with the deal going through on deadline day<\/a>.<\/p>\n Rooney was just 18 at the time, and made his name with Everton where he struck 17 first team goals.<\/p>\n The move was a record fee for a teenager, and one that Sir Alex Ferguson<\/a> hoped would inspire a new era of success for the club, having signed Cristiano Ronaldo<\/a> a year earlier.<\/p>\n Ronaldo was a promising talent, but Rooney already looked like he was ready at 18, which he demonstrated on his debut, with a hat-trick in the Champions League.<\/p>\n Speaking at Rooney\u2019s introductory press conference, Sir Alex Ferguson gave the biggest possible endorsement of the player, by predicting he could have an Eric Cantona effect<\/a> on the club.<\/p>\n Ferguson said: \u201cI can see Wayne having the same impact as Eric Cantona had on the team when I signed him.<\/p>\n \u201cI am very excited. We have got the best young player this country has seen in the past 30 years. <\/p>\n \u201cWayne is not the finished article yet, but he is a fantastic talent and he proved that at Euro 2004. He has marvellous potential.\u201d<\/p>\n Ferguson had not expected Rooney to be available, but after Everton began negotiating with Newcastle, he knew Manchester United had to move.<\/p>\n He explained: \u201cThe vibes I was getting from David Moyes at the end of last season were that he wasn\u2019t for sale.<\/p>\n \u201cBut once we knew Everton were talking to another club, we had to do something. I think it was a case that Manchester United could not afford to miss out on him.\u201d<\/p>\n Which one striker at their peak would you re-sign for Manchester United right now? <\/p>\n Ferguson went on to reveal how Manchester United had been tracking Rooney for years, after watching him against the Red Devils\u2019 youth teams.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cI\u2019ve known his potential for a long time, but the way he has played in the last three years has been phenomenal<\/p>\n \u201cI got a call from our staff saying they\u2019d seen a player and I should do something about it.<\/p>\n \u201cHe didn\u2019t want to leave Everton, but we showed interest even then, at 14.\u201d<\/p>\n Assessing how Wayne Rooney lived up to Ferguson\u2019s expectation<\/p>\n Eric Cantona<\/a> was a totally unique figure<\/a> who lifted United to win a first league title in three decades in the early 90s, launching an era of success.<\/p>\n Rooney proved to be the catalyst for the next chapter. It took until the 2006\/07<\/a> season to win his first title, and United went on to win three in a row.<\/p>\n During this time Rooney and United won the Champions League<\/a> and the Club World Cup<\/a>, and he went on to win two more league titles and reach two more Champions League Finals.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udd34 Manchester United Top 5 All-Time Goalscorers Rank Player Total Goals Appearances 1 Wayne Rooney 253 559 2 Sir Bobby Charlton 249 758 3 Denis Law 237 404 4 Jack Rowley 211 424 5 Dennis Viollet 179 293 5 George Best 179 470 <\/p>\n *Dennis Viollet and George Best are officially tied for 5th place with 179 goals each.<\/p>\n Rooney\u2019s greatest achievement was his scoring record. He eclipsed Sir Bobby Charlton\u2019s long-standing feat<\/a>, to become Manchester United\u2019s highest ever scorer<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"mail](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/mail.png\")
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Photo by John Peters\/Manchester United via Getty ImagesSir Alex Ferguson\u2019s Wayne Rooney press conference<\/p>\n