Wayne Rooney has stunned his fellow pundits by revealing the value of the biggest contract he signed at Manchester United, admitting he earned a deal worth around £17million as the club’s most prominent star.
The disclosure came during a discussion on Stick to Football, where former professionals traded stories about their playing contracts - before Rooney’s announcement brought the room to a standstill.
The former United captain was asked by Gary Neville to name the largest agreement he signed across his 13 seasons at Old Trafford.
Rooney calmly responded with the figure in question, leaving Neville, Jamie Carragher, Ian Wright and Roy Keane momentarily speechless.
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The conversation highlighted not just Rooney’s standing in English football, but the vast financial growth of the Premier League during the latter years of his career.
Rooney signed a five-and-a-half–year extension in 2014, widely reported to be worth £300,000 per week.
The deal also included commercial rights and post-retirement ambassadorial arrangements, a package that reflected his status as United’s most influential player on and off the pitch.
Five things to know about Wayne Rooney | GETTYBy the time he left the club as its record scorer, with 250 goals in 559 appearances, he had collected five Premier League titles, the Champions League, FA Cup, Europa League and three League Cups.
The financial contrast to his fellow pundits was stark.
Neville, who spent his entire career at United and captained the side, revealed that he earned a basic wage of £1.75m, eventually rising to £2.25m.
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Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher were stunned by Wayne Rooney's financial admission
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Carragher’s biggest Liverpool deal totalled around £3m, largely boosted by bonuses after the club’s 2005 Champions League triumph.
Keane, who captained United before both Rooney and Neville, said he earned roughly £5m at his peak, joking that it was because he was a “better player, obviously”, before insisting even that sum was modest by today’s standards.
Neville appeared to realise just how far player salaries had accelerated, joking that he should have hired an agent rather than negotiating his own terms.
“Money was never a focus for me,” he said.
“I just thought that if I can get to the end of my career at 35 or 36 at United then I know I’ll be alright.
Wayne Rooney pictured after signing his bumper Manchester United deal in 2014
|GETTY
“When they offered me seven years on less money, it was better for me than signing for four years on higher money.
"I always thought in a more cautious way.”
Meanwhile, United are next in action against Everton on Monday night - two of Rooney's former clubs.
They'll be aiming to return to winning ways after recent draws against Tottenham and Nottingham Forest before the international break.