Revealed: Scotland’s plan to pinch 16-year-old Rooney via family link

Wayne Rooney

Former Scotland boss Berti Vogts has revealed that Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney could have played for the Scottish national team had he not opted for England.

Following the furore over Red Devils team-mate Adnan Januzaj’s dilemma regarding his international loyalties, the current Azerbaijan coach admitted that the Scottish FA tried to convince a then 16-year-old Rooney to switch his allegiance.

“I spoke to Wayne Rooney – his grandmother, she is Scottish,” said Vogts. ”The Scottish Football Association found the grandmother and I made the call. I flew from Glasgow to Everton.

“He was playing under David Moyes at Everton and I spoke to him – a young lad of 16 years of age. I said to him ‘you can play for Scotland’.

“You have to speak to the player but he told me ‘I’m so sorry boss, I’m English’.”

The Tartan Army will be wondering what could have been, after watching Vancouver Whitecaps striker Kenny Miller plough many a lone furrow for Scotland.

Rooney could also have been a perfect spearhead for Craig Levein’s infamous 4-6-0 formation in 2010, but decided to pursue his ambitions with the Three Lions.

This is the latest of a series of claims about the Manchester United striker, with reports also emerging this morning of a rift between Rooney and former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.