Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed Manchester United twice tried to sign Wayne Rooney as an Everton junior.
Then United director of youth Jimmy Ryan recommended the striker on two separate occasions, but Rooney - rising through the ranks at his hometown club - dismissed their advances.
Former United boss Ferguson told ITV: "Jim Ryan came back from one of our academy games at the 14 years level and he said 'I've seen a player" and he said the boy is Wayne Rooney and we tried to get him because there's a window at the end of the season - it's a one-week window - where we can entice or approach a boy from another club to come join your academy, but it failed.
"The boy wanted to stay at Everton - at that time he had a love of the club and he's an Everton fan.
"When he got to 16 we tried again. We approached him to join as a 16-year-old, but once again he refused."