Overview
- Rooney says the abuse followed his £27m transfer at age 18 after he rejected a record contract offer from Everton.
- He recounts his parents' house being spray-painted and smashed and says his then‑girlfriend Coleen's home was also targeted.
- He describes adopting an "I don't care" mindset to keep playing and stresses the need for strong support from family and club staff.
- Contrasting eras, he warns that platforms now expose prospects to vast audiences, citing his 16‑year‑old son Kai in Manchester United's youth setup.
- He recalls writing to Everton hero Duncan Ferguson during the striker's prison term as a boy and later sharing a dressing room with him.