Alex Ferguson reveals how Rooney rejected united twice before signing for them in 2004

Wayne Rooney rejected Manchester United TWICE as a youngster because of his love for Everton.

Sir Alex Ferguson revealed the England star snubbed the Red Devils as a teenager to remain at Goodison Park after being recommended by United director of youth Jimmy Ryan.

Fergie told ITV: "Jim Ryan came back from one of our academy games at the 14 years level and he said 'I've seen a player' and he said the boy is Wayne Rooney and we tried to get him because there's a window at the end of the season - it's a one-week window - where we can entice or approach a boy from another club to come join your academy, but it failed,’ Ferguson said.

"The boy wanted to stay at Everton - at that time he had a love of the club and he's an Everton fan.

"When he got to 16 we tried again. We approached him to join as a 16-year-old, but once again he refused."

However, hotshot Rooney finally made the £25million switch to Old Trafford in 2004 after making his mark in the Premier League for the Toffees.

He has gone on to net more than 200 goals for the club and is on the verge of breaking Sir Bobby Charlton's England goalscoring record.

Fergie added: "I think everyone saw the highlights when he scored that goal against Arsenal. It confirmed exactly what Jim Ryan had said. This boy was going to be a United player.

"And then he came on as a sub against us and we beat them 4-3 and he missed a sitter in that game. But he came on as 17-year-old lad. After that, I had Walter Smith as my assistant and he said 'we've got to get this kid, we've got to get him', and that started the process of the bid.

"Eventually we got it done in my office after we played Everton. There was Bill Kenwright, Maurice Watkins and David Moyes, obviously, arguing over the deal and we eventually got it done."