Wayne and Coleen Rooney have spoken publicly for the first time about the moment their youngest son Cass was released from Everton's academy, describing how the eight-year-old burst into tears upon hearing the news.
The couple, who have four boys - Kai, Klay, Kit and Cass - appeared on the Therapy Crouch podcast with former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch and his wife Abbey Clancy, where they discussed the emotional impact of the decision.
Son's reaction to Everton release
Coleen Rooney explained that Cass, a season ticket holder and self-described massive Evertonian, had been part of the club's U7s setup before being let go as the squad moved into the U9s age group.
"The youngest one, he got let go," Coleen said. "That was the hardest thing. Because the older two had been there and stayed there at United, Cass was at Everton. It was only U7s and he is a massive Evertonian, so he's got a season ticket and he loves Everton."
She added: "So, the fact that he was there was everything to him. We knew, because it was a big squad, and obviously, then going into the U9s, you get signed then. We knew he wasn't going to stay because he wasn't one of the stronger ones there and the day came when we got the phone call."
Parents' advice to their son
Coleen described the moment she had to break the news to Cass while Wayne was not yet home, recalling that he "threw his head into his hands and he just burst out crying." She noted that within an hour he had recovered and was on the phone to his grandparents, telling them Everton had released him.
Wayne Rooney, who did not join Everton's academy until the age of nine, offered perspective on the rejection: "In football, the amount of players we've played with who maybe don't make it at Man United, Everton or Liverpool, but then they go and play [elsewhere], so there's opportunity to have a career."
He added: "And you forget, they're so young. I said to him, 'I didn't join Everton's academy until I was nine, so actually you've got loads of time. Enjoy playing football and if it comes, it comes'."
Cass continues to play for his grassroots team, while his older brother Kai, 16, secured a scholarship with Manchester United's U18s this summer, and Klay, 13, is also part of the setup at Old Trafford.
