GARY NEVILLE called Wayne Rooney a “little f***er” after he revealed he was instructed to “boot” him during their playing careers.
The incident took place when Rooney was making his way through the Everton academy and playing for the Toffees’ reserves.
Neville was nursing an injury at the time and gaining match fitness by playing reserve games for Manchester United.
Here, he met a young Rooney, who had been instructed to “kick the f*** out of” Neville.
Speaking on Sky Bet’s The Overlap, Rooney said: “That was the team talk, if anyone gets a chance, make sure they boot ya. That was it.”
Neville seemed taken aback by Wazza’s honesty and broke into laughter.
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He then asked: “Was that [an instruction] by the coach or?”
And Rooney replied: “Yeah! From the manager.”
When Neville asked why that was, Rooney said: “It’s probably calmed down a bit now but you weren’t very liked in Liverpool were you? So a reserve game we all had the chance to [kick you]… I think I tried to elbow you as well.”
Neville said: “You elbowed me, and you actually kneed me in my back. I thought ‘You f***er.’ I thought you’d done me there because you’re stocky.”
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He then asked Rooney: “That’s not normal though, for a coach to say ‘go and boot him’?”
Rooney replied: “Yeah I think back then [it was]. Nowadays it’s not but back then if you or Phil were playing one of youse is getting it.”
Rooney would go on to link up with Neville when he transferred to United in 2004.
He would go on to become the club’s record goalscorer.
Later on the Overlap episode, Rooney also revealed he dreams of one day managing former clubs Manchester United and Everton.
The player, turned manager, had been out of work since being sacked by Birmingham in January.
He is back in a Championship hotseat now though, having taken the Plymouth Argyle job this week.
Wayne Rooney’s quickfire Q&A
Toughest opponent? “I think John Terry was probably most difficult.”
Favourite tweet? “Probably my Mr Bean one. I just put: ‘Mr Bean. Funny.’ I don’t know why. I’d probably had a few drinks.
Form a band from former team-mates? “De Gea was good on the guitar… Phil Jones fancies himself as well.”
Best advice? “I’d probably say from Roy Hodgson… he said to me that the best picture you can take is in your mind.”
Favourite piece of memorabilia? “It’s strange but I love the book in the middle – Opus book.”
One thing you’d like to do in rest of your life? “I would like to sky dive. I’ve had it set-up but I can’t do it.”
Night in or night out? “Night in definitely.”
Favourite movie? “It was Shawshank Redemption until Wolf of Wall Street.”
Favourite holiday destination? “Probably say Dubai now. I think it’s more because the kids love it.”
What superpower? “Be invisible.”
Best car owned? “My favourite car is the Audi RS6. The best one, probably the Mercedes DTM AMG.”
Club you wished you played for? “Celtic I’d say.”
Cats or dogs? “Dogs. I’ve got one.”
Fastest team-mate? “Probably Theo Walcott or Kyle Walker.”
One thing you can’t live without? “Family. Easy.”
Favourite pair of clothing? “You know what, this is going to sound weird, but actually a nice comfortable pair of pyjamas.”
Who is taking a last minute penalty to save your life? “Me! If it wasn’t I’d probably say Ronaldo but he’d probably miss now on purpose! If it wasn’t me then it’d be Van Nistelrooy.”
One player you wished you had played with? “[Lionel] Messi is the best of all time but to play with [Zinedine] Zidane [would be amazing].”
Pre-match song? “I’d normally get on the massage bed, and I’d actually put Susan Boyle on.”
Biggest regret? ” The red card in the World Cup was my lowest moment in football.”
Favourite goal? “The Manchester City one – the overhead kick.”
Hero growing up? “Duncan Ferguson.”
Favourite stadium? “My favourite ground to play in was Wembley.”
England highlight? “I’d say the Euros in 2004, as a whole, I just loved that tournament.”
Dream job? “I’d love to manage Everton or Manchester United. I’d probably say United.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
