The fervour and excitement that greeted the pursuit of this precociously gifted teenager is easy to convey.
Rooney had burst through at Everton and quickly become the hottest young property in the game. Early whispers of interest from United seemed obvious but the die-hard Toffee, who had celebrated an FA Youth Cup final goal by displaying a T-shirt bearing the message: 'Once a Blue, always a Blue', might not be a straight-forward target.
As he adapted to international football like a seasoned veteran, confirming his natural ability and confidence, scoring goals at Old Trafford, against Liechtenstein and Denmark offered a tantalising glimpse into what could occur on a regular basis in the future.