14 October 2023 , 10:52
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Wayne Rooney turned down the chance to manage in Saudi Arabia before taking the Birmingham City job.
Rooney was announced as Birmingham's new manager on Wednesday and has succeeded John Eustace at St Andrew's. The Manchester United legend was a free agent after leaving Major League Soccer side DC United at the end of their 2023 campaign.
Yet Rooney could've been in charge of a Saudi Pro League side instead. Speaking at his Birmingham unveiling on Thursday, the former Derby County boss confirmed he received an offer from the Middle East but decided to have a crack at the Championship instead.
Rooney's decision contrasts Cristiano Ronaldo's, as the Portugal captain joined Saudi giants Al-Nassr at the beginning of the year. Rooney and Ronaldo clashed last November, when the latter accused the former of being jealous in a sensational row.
Rooney was asked about his Saudi offer at his unveiling. The new Blues boss replied: "I felt for my development that my pathway was a different way. That is no disrespect to any manager that has gone out there, by the way."
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Several managers and players - including Steven Gerrard, Neymar, Sadio Mane, N'Golo Kante, Aleksandr Mitrovic, Jordan Henderson, Karim Benzema, Roberto Firmino and Ruben Neves - have moved to Saudi Arabia on lucrative contracts.
The Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, has invested significantly in the Saudi Pro League during the last 12 months. Ronaldo was the PIF's first major signing, joining Al-Nassr after he mutually agreed to leave United last November.
Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo clashed last year (Getty Images)Do you think Wayne Rooney will be successful at Birmingham? Let us know in the comments below!
Ronaldo's exit came after a remarkable interview with TalkTV host Piers Morgan, in which he criticised the club and several individuals - including Rooney. He was annoyed by a comment his former team-mate had made in the press.
"One year ago or six months ago, he (Rooney) was in my house and he picked up his kids and asked Cristiano (his son) if he wanted to play football," said Ronaldo. "I don't understand people like that, maybe they want to be front page of the news or they want jobs."
Ronaldo, 38, then highlighted the fact he's still playing and Rooney, 37, isn't. He said: "I'm not going to say that I'm looking better than him, which is true. It's hard to listen to that kind of criticism and negativity from people who played with you."
According to Sky Sports, Rooney was left 'bemused' by Ronaldo's comments. Rooney then broke his silence. "Oh listen, Cristiano's a fantastic player," he said. "As I've said before, him and (Lionel) Messi are the two best players, probably, ever to play the game.
"And again, it's no criticism, what I've said is, 'Age comes to all of us'. Cristiano, obviously, is feeling that and has found it hard to deal with that and, obviously, he's done an interview and it's gone global. They're strange, some of the comments, they're strange."