Former Everton defender Andy Hinchcliffe has given a damning assessment on the Toffees’ intention’s to bring Wayne Rooney back to Goodison Park from Manchester United, suggesting it wouldn’t be a good move for the club.
Ronald Koeman went public this week with his desire to bring Rooney back to Merseyside, over a decade after he left, with England’s all-time record-scorer looking to be approaching the end of his days at Old Trafford.
However, Hinchcliffe believes the move would only come about due to sentimental reasons and doesn’t think it would be a good move for Everton or for Rooney himself. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said:
“You can’t go back to Everton for sentimental reasons. If you look at Everton, everything’s moving forward in terms Ronald Koeman, the money they’re spending on players, the style of football they’re looking to play and what they’re looking to achieve.”
“I’m not saying Wayne Rooney would be a backward step but, to me, it would be a bit sentimental; it would be a short-term solution. Maybe for a year or more he could give something to Everton.”
“Of course he would love to go back to the club he started his career with. But is that what Everton really need? Is that what Wayne Rooney really needs? I am not so sure.”
“There was talk of him going to China and I think it’s really encouraging that he didn’t go, if that opportunity was there. Where he actually ends up will be really interesting but I am not sure Everton is right for either the player or the club.”
The 31-year-old started his career with Everton, making his debut in 2002, and went on to make 67 Premier League appearances for the Toffees before moving to Manchester United in 2004 for a fee of £25.6m.
With the Red Devils, Rooney has become the club’s all-time leading goalscorer and has also won every major honour he can get his hands on in English football multiple times- adding a Champions League crown in the process.
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