D.C. United sees pieces come together as Rooney introduced

For a man who officially has been part of the club for mere days, Wayne Rooney spoke early and often about restoring D.C. United to its former glory.

The English star was formally introduced as the newest member of D.C. United at the Newseum on Monday afternoon, in a press conference that confirmed much of the information and speculation surrounding the transfer for weeks.

“I think the club has got great history,” Rooney said. “It’s been tough over the last few years and the club — it doesn’t need to look back at the history it’s got, it needs to try and create more history. As I’ve said many times, I’m not here to see out my last few years. I’m here to compete, I’m here to win and that’s the way I’ve always played.”

Rooney has not met most of his new teammates, who just played at New England last weekend and traveled straight to Los Angeles for an upcoming match. Shortly after his arrival at Dulles International Airport Thursday — where he was greeted by hundreds of enthusiastic fans — Rooney had his first training day with some of United’s academy players.

The newcomer had to call out some of those younger players to run harder in practice, he said.

“We need to improve. I think that’s clear to see,” Rooney said. “We have to improve and start getting better results. But I think there’s talent in the team. Maybe with a little bit of guidance, a little bit of help on and off the pitch, I can help them, and also they can help me.”

Rooney did not offer any new details as to why he left his Premier League club, Everton, in the first place.

“It’s a club I grew up supporting and I was grateful and delighted to go back there last summer,” he said. “In football you never know what’s around the corner. … I’m sure there’s a lot of questions on why I left Everton, and I’m sure the people who want to know can ask Everton Football Club and let them answer it.”

But why did he pick Washington, instead of another Major League Soccer destination? Rooney seemed to be sold on the idea of bringing a formerly successful club into a new era of success, in conjunction with the opening of Audi Field.

On the club’s end of things, Audi Field was on officials’ lips Monday almost as often as Rooney’s name.

The new soccer-specific stadium, which has been called a “cathedral for soccer” by United CEO Jason Levien, opens on July 14 when the Red and Black host the Vancouver Whitecaps. Both Rooney and the team want him to be ready to make his MLS debut that night, officials said.

When Rooney visited Washington on a “fact-finding mission” in May, “the first place we took him was Audi Field,” said Dave Kasper, United’s general manager and vice president of soccer operations.

United’s long-term strategy was always to pair the stadium with a new elite arrival or arrivals, according to Kasper.

“In the first meetings I had with the ownership back in 2012, with Jason Levien, the number one priority was to build a stadium, and once we built a stadium we were going to add world-class talent,” Kasper said, adding that Rooney was always the top choice on their list of targets.

Is that too much pressure for the 32-year-old who has yet to bond with his new teammates?

“Literally, have you seen his shoulders? He’s got broad shoulders. They’re massive,” Kasper laughed. “He’s played in big moments throughout his career. I don’t think that’s going to be an issue at all.”

It may have actually helped Washington’s case that it is not one of the country’s biggest markets.

“I’ve been to places like L.A. and New York and it’s too hectic,” Rooney said. “It’s like London. For me, I’ve never fancied going to live in London. I need my own space to get away from things when I need to. Washington seemed to give me that opportunity to do that.”

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser was on hand to welcome Rooney and declare July 2 “Wayne Rooney Day” in the city. She framed Rooney’s arrival in her tradition of dubbing Washington the “sports capital” of the country, reminding those in attendance of the Capitals’ Stanley Cup and adding, “We think we have a World Series in our future as well.”

“(D.C. United) deserve a lot of credit for having a vision for our team, for soccer in D.C., for Audi Field, and I did not know that they had Wayne Rooney up their sleeve,” Bowser said.