Man United legend Wayne Rooney explained why David Moyes sued him in 2008, years after he joined the Red Devils from Everton.
Moyes played a pivotal role in Wayne Rooney’s career, giving him his first team debut at Everton in 2002.
Rooney quickly rose to prominence, showcasing his prodigious talent on the field.
However, in 2004, Rooney made a high-profile move to Manchester United for a then-record fee of £30 million, marking the beginning of a strained relationship between the player and his former manager.
The tension between Rooney and Moyes escalated in 2008 when Moyes sued Rooney over claims made in the player’s autobiography, “My Story So Far.”
In his book, Rooney accused Moyes of leaking details of a private conversation regarding his plans to leave Everton.
Moyes was furious with the claim and sued Rooney for libel.
In response to the lawsuit, Rooney and Harper Collins withdrew the accusations and issued a public apology to Moyes.
The publisher also agreed to pay substantial damages to Moyes, which he donated to the Everton Former Players Foundation.
RegretsÂ
In a candid interview with Gary Neville on “The Overlap” Rooney expressed his regret over the incident.
“David Moyes was really good for me at Everton,” Rooney said.
“He sued me after I left the club—I hammered him when I left because of how I felt at the time. I regret that.
“I spoke to him a few years after I left.
“Also, I called him up and apologized because the older you get, you realize why he was doing things.
“It was new to him to have a player getting all those headlines, for him to figure out.
“He was a young manager at the time, it was new to him.
“When I look back, he was good for me, he was constantly on me.
“He was trying to not let me think that I was better than I was.
“I was a handful in my youth.
“In the indoor gym, I was launching rockets from one end to the other. Moyes walked in when I was just 16.”
Relief And Satisfaction
Following the resolution of the legal dispute, Moyes expressed his relief and satisfaction.
“Anyone who knows me well would, I hope, regard me as a man of honour and integrity,” Moyes stated.
“I was disappointed and wanted people to know that what had been written was completely untrue.
“I felt that I had no choice but to take action for a full apology and damages.
“Having accepted these, I do not intend to make any financial gain from this and shall give that to the Everton Former Players Foundation”.
As Rooney himself noted, the passage of time often brings a clearer understanding of past actions and decisions.
His reflections serve as a poignant reminder of the value of mentorship and the impact it can have on young athletes navigating the pressures of fame and performance.
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Rooney later played under Moyes again when the latter managed Manchester United during the 2013-14 season.
Currently, the former striker is the manager of Plymouth Argyle while Moyes remains a free agent after leaving West Ham.
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