At the age of 18, Rooney was the most sought after wonderkid in the Premier League following a break-out 2004 European Championship campaign.
Rooney would eventually hand in a late transfer request at Everton, and Man United swooped in to sign the forward for a £27 million.
He would go on to be one of the best players in United’s incredible history, playing 559 matches and scoring 253 goals, becoming their all-time top goal scorer.
Things could have been very different, however, after Rooney admitted he came close to joining Newcastle following conversations with Alan Shearer and Sir Bobby Robson.
"I would have certainly went (to Newcastle)," Rooney revealed on his self-titled podcast The Wayne Rooney Show.
"Manchester United wanted to wait a season and then sign me the year after they did sign me. Newcastle put a bid in and if Manchester United hadn't come in, I would have gone to Newcastle.
"Those two were bidding against each other. My agent's best mate was chairman at Newcastle at the time! So I'm sure he was getting nudged to try to get me as well. I wanted to go to Manchester United, but I spoke with Sir Bobby Robson and Alan Shearer.
"In true Bobby Robson style, on the phone he called me 'Mark'. I thought he had either forgotten my name or he was a genius - because that's my middle name."