Wayne Rooney has announced his retirement from the international game with immediate effect, after rejecting an England call-up from Gareth Southgate in the internationals against Malta and Slovakia next month.
England's record goalscorer said in a statement today:
“It was great that Gareth Southgate called me this week to tell me he wanted me back in the England squad for the upcoming matches. I really appreciated that. However, having already thought long and hard, I told Gareth that I had now decided to retire for good from international football.”
Rooney signed for boyhood club Everton at the start of the season from Manchester United, and has found form in the first two premier league gameweeks after having large spells on the United bench the last two years.
Personally, I think it's a smart move from Rooney - it will mean that he will be able to focus on more on his club role at Everton, and attempt to keep his name on the teamsheet week in week out (an issue he had with his outrageously poor form at United in the last couple of seasons).
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