10 Man Utd Players Who Nearly Signed For Liverpool

2. Wayne Rooney

For a player who has scored over 200 goals for Manchester United, and once celebrated an Everton goal with a T-shirt emblazoned with the message 'Once A Blue, Always A Blue', it might come as something of an eyebrow-raiser to learn that Wayne Rooney once had a trial at the mutual arch-enemy of both teams. A boyhood Evertonian, the Croxteth-born youngster was anxiously awaiting a scout's phone call at Goodison Park when he was offered a trial at cross-city rivals Liverpool. At just nine years old, the talented youngster jumped at the chance to showcase his skills, despite his allegiance lying with the Toffees.

''I was playing for an under-nines side and was approached by a scout and invited to Melwood. I went along, but after I wet once, an Everton scout came on the phone and asked me to go there. It was the call that desperately wanted and I gave Liverpool a swerve after that. But as a young lad wanting to be a professional I had to go to Liverpool when I was asked. There was no other club interested in me at the time, but as soon as Everton came in there was never a single doubt in mind.'' - Wayne Rooney, June 2003.

Even as a sprightly kid, the mischievous Rooney couldn't help nailing his colours to the mast, by proudly turning up to his Melwood trial in an Everton replica kit. While there isn't a great deal of good feeling between Everton and Manchester United right now following the recent failings of Marouane Fellaini, Phil Neville and David Moyes, one thing the Lancashire outfit should always be grateful to the Toffees for is snapping Rooney up. If he had been left to sign over his future to Liverpool, he could kiss his Old Trafford future goodbye, and in turn, a number of Premier League titles might have reached different destinations.