It was long before reports emerged of Everton’s interest in Wayne Rooney that boss Ronald Koeman revealed one of his backroom team was begging him to sign the then England captain.
Duncan Ferguson - Rooney’s friend and childhood idol - was in the ear of the Dutchman on a daily basis, for even as far back as November he knew that the idea was far from fantasy.
It cannot be underestimated, then, the role of Ferguson in Rooney’s sensational return to Goodison Park this week.
Their friendship was strong enough for Ferguson to persuade Rooney to turn out in the blue of his former club for his testimonial match two years ago, even though he was captain of Manchester United at the time.