Wayne Rooney has rejoined boyhood club Everton on Sunday after 13 years at Manchester United after rejecting a mega-money transfer to the Chinese Super League.
With the World Cup less than a year away, the former England captain said a desire to continue his international career played a role in turning down offers to move to China.
“I want to play for England,” Rooney told multiple English newspapers, as quoted by The Guardian.
“If I had gone to China, which was an option, then I would have called it a day.
I want to play for England. You can’t get in the England squad because of what you have done before. You need to be playing well to represent your country. I understand that and I respect that. That’s what I have to do now.”
England’s record goalscorer has not played international football since last November but hopes that he can convince head coach Gareth Southgate that he is worth a place in The Three Lions’ squad.