Ask Wayne Rooney what he loves most about his new life in the United States, and he says that is the simple things – being able to go about “everyday life” without the scrutiny that was so all-encompassing as one of Britain’s most famous public figures.

“Everyday [normal] life is something I maybe didn’t have as a child growing up from 16 going into the first team [at Everton] and England,” he says. “It is nice to still be playing and be able to do that. In terms of my time with my family, it’s a lot more enjoyable.”

His four boys Kai, Klay, Kit and baby Cass are now seeing their dad walking around shopping malls without drawing any of the attention he might once have done in the Trafford Centre in Manchester.

“It wasn’t impossible to go to places like that,” he says, “but I suppose in the last five years I have done it [the Trafford Centre] once. I think it is just more the hassle. You know people are going to come up, pictures and you are almost expected to do them and give them pictures.