Wayne Rooney is renowned as one of Sir Alex Ferguson's greatest ever signings at Manchester United, but their relationship didn't get off to the greatest start.

The boyhood Everton fan completed a move to Old Trafford in 2004 after bursting onto the scene at Goodison Park with that stunning long-range effort against Arsenal in October 2002.

3) Wayne Rooney, Everton to Manchester United, 2004.
Rooney burst onto the scene with boyhood club Everton

While that move came with Rooney at the age of just 18, the feisty forward had the opportunity to complete his move to United four years earlier.

Rooney had been approached by Sir Alex, but revealed in an interview with The Sun that he had some choice words for arguably the greatest football manager of all time.

He explained: "Sir Alex ­Ferguson tried to sign me when I was 14. He was on the phone to my mum and dad.

"They said, 'Alex is on the phone, Manchester United want to sign you'. 

"I said, 'Tell him to f*** off. I want to play for Everton'.

"Then as time went on, I knew I had to play for Alex Ferguson. The reason I signed for United was Alex Ferguson."

Sir Alex clearly wasn't deterred by Rooney's no-nonsense response
12. Wayne Rooney has won nine major trophies – to find out which current Premier League players have the most winner's medals, click the yellow arrow above, right!
Rooney did eventually sign for the club and proved to be one of their greatest of all time

Man United have since struggled to cope without both Rooney and Sir Alex Ferguson, with the now-Derby boss saying that his former club 'are a long way off'.

He told talkSPORT in February: "I said it back in 2009 and 2010, losing Ronaldo and Tevez was a big loss. I still believe they've struggled to recover from that.

"Losing Alex Ferguson and David Gill was a big blow for them. Ed Woodward came in and I think Ed has done a good job.

"They've changed the manager a few times and they just need that stability and have some time to work with the players.

"Man United aren't going to win the league in the next two or three years. They need to use this time so in the next three or four years they are challenging again.

"They are a long way off it at the minute."