David Moyes has recalled the early days of working with Wayne Rooney at Everton.
Moyes admits the fee raised from his sale to Manchester United helped Everton "develop".
He told the Sunday Mirror: "I remember Eriksson ringing me up to tell me he was going to give Wayne his England debut, and my reaction was one of caution.
"As Wayne's club manager, I had a responsibility to make sure that his progress wasn't rushed.
"It wasn't a case of holding him back. I wanted him at his best for Everton and I needed him focused on that.
"But I remember driving up to the north-east to watch Wayne play against Turkey at Sunderland in a European qualifier. I left the Stadium of Light that night bursting with pride.
"Wayne tore Turkey apart, he was the best player on the pitch by a mile, and I knew, even before he went to Euro 2004, that we would have a big problem keeping him at Everton.
"Manchester United were already into him. I had spoken to [manager] Sir Alex Ferguson and Wayne's agent Paul Stretford and, by the time he came back from Euro 2004, we faced an impossible task, trying to keep him.
"We got £24million - it looks a bargain now, but it was good money for Everton. It enabled the club to develop over the next few years."
