Wayne Rooney has revealed that Everton "made it clear" they wanted him to leave the club before his move to DC United last month.
Rooney returned to Goodison Park last July following a trophy-laden 13-year stint at Manchester United, and went on to net 11 goals for the Toffees, finishing 2017-18 as their top scorer.
The 32-year-old failed to find consistency in an often-struggling side, though, and new manager Marco Silva and director of football Marcel Brands confirmed in June that the former England captain was in talks with MLS club DC.
The forward finally completed the move on June 28, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract, suggesting at the time that the decision to leave Merseyside was not just down to him, though Silva had claimed the club were open to Rooney staying.