Between Rooney and Ronaldo, the friendly rivalry resurfaces. Asked to talk about his years at Manchester United, the Englishman made a secret that was spicy to say the least. Behind the calm tone, a small arrow addressed to his former teammate, today a world football icon. Because if Rooney has often recognized the extraordinary talent of the Portuguese, this time he dared to nuance the legend. And in his own words, there is one area in which he believes he was superior to Ronaldo during his Old Trafford days.
Rooney undermines the Ronaldo myth
This is the sentence that surprised all of England. On the set of
Wayne Rooney Showthe former Red Devils captain claimed he was faster than Cristiano Ronaldo during physical tests in training.
“We did tests over 30 meters, and I was first. Owen Hargreaves was second,” said Rooney, before specifying: “People don’t realize how fast Owen was. I was too. But hey, there are different forms of speed: Cristiano, with the ball, was going at an incredible pace. » A revelation that makes you smile but which, coming from a player renowned for his frankness, sounds like real pride.
Between 2004 and 2009, Rooney and Ronaldo formed one of the most feared attacking duos in Europe. Three Premier League titles and a Champions League under Ferguson cemented their legend. But behind the successes, internal competition remained fierce. “We pushed each other to be better”acknowledged Rooney, recalling that this healthy rivalry shaped the club’s winning DNA at that time.
A complex relationship, an intact admiration
Their friendship experienced turbulence, notably after the famous quarter-final of the 2006 World Cup, where Ronaldo caused Rooney’s expulsion. But the two men quickly reconciled. Today, the Englishman still admires the journey of his former partner: “He will reach 1000 goals, that’s for sure. It’s incredible. » A sentence which proves that, behind the pike, respect persists.
Nearly twenty years after their shared beginnings, one is a coach, the other still active at 40 years old. But Rooney, in questioning a myth of Ronaldo’s physical work, reminded us of one thing: in this golden generation, he was never a mere foil. Even in the face of a legend, he remains proud to have stood his ground — and sometimes, to have run faster.
