Wayne Rooney has admitted he instantly regretted kissing the Manchester United badge in front of Everton supporters.
The striker grew up as an Everton fan and lived every supporter’s dream by coming through the academy to star in the first team as a mere teenager. He made the switch to United in 2004 aged just 18 for a whopping £27million fee, before going on to become the club’s record goal-scorer.
And he at one point appeared to break all ties with the Toffees in a rush of blood to the head. The incident came in 2007 after Everton fans had given him stick while 2-0 up against the Red Devils.
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Rooney soon made them pay by latching onto a loose ball and slotting the ball past Iain Turner in goal. The former Evertonian then decided to goad the supporters behind the net with his arms in the air, before kissing the United badge.
But the 37-year-old has now told Toffee TV: “It was just a reaction to the Everton fans being on me at 2-0 up. It had been constant, so it was just a reaction [from me].
“I love Everton. Everton will always be my club, who I follow and my kids follow. I remember afterwards thinking ‘Oh no, what have I done.’”
(Image: Toffee TV/Youtube)
(Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)
When asked if he regretted the kiss, Rooney said “Yeah, it just happened. It’s almost like your mind goes blank with the emotion coming out. It seemed to happen a lot, especially when I was younger.”
The DC United manager was known for speaking his mind in the face of fan criticism as a player. He reacted in similar fashion once more against Everton a year later, this time after a foul on Mikel Arteta.
After being booked, red mist descended on the forward as he kissed the badge in frustration a second time – before pointing towards the stands.
But perhaps the most well-known example of Rooney losing it with fans inside a stadium was when he infamously told the camera at the 2010 World Cup: “Nice to see your home fans booing you, talk about support” after England’s dismal 0-0 draw with Algeria.
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