The likelihood of Wayne Rooney making an emotional return to Goodison Park has moved closer after he announced that he won’t be moving to China this month.
Despite Paul Stretford, Rooney’s long time agent, flying out to China the England skipper has decided against the possibility of earning upto £1m/week.
According to a report in the Daily Mail a return to Everton is still a live possibility although getting close to Rooney’s current salary is likely to be a problem.
Rooney’s fall from grace has been dramatic under Jose Mourinho with the club’s leading all time scorer reduced to the role of bit part player.
Moving to China or the MLS would effectively end Rooney’s international career with the 31-year-old still hoping to play at next year’s World Cup Finals in Russia.
Rooney is currently on 119 international caps, seven more appearances will take him past England record holder Peter Shilton.
Having won every trophy that the game has to offer moving to another English club is unlikely leaving an emotional return to Goodison a stronger opportunity.
When the teenage Rooney quit Everton for Old Trafford in 2004 he was subjected to the ire of the Everton support but that has mellowed over the years
In 2015 Rooney was back in a blue shirt for Duncan Ferguson’s Testimonial match, if he fails to move to China in the next few days the prospect of a permanent move back to Merseyside will become much more likely.