Wayne Rooney has overlooked Cristiano Ronaldo when asked who the best finisher he played with was during his time at Manchester United.
The pair were both instrumental in one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s most successful teams, which also featured Carlos Tevez in attack.
Ferguson’s decision to pair the three together proved to be a masterstroke, and they quickly became one of the league’s most feared attacking units. They were relentless for a few seasons and struck real fear into opposition defences.
Rooney moved from Everton to Man Utd in 2004, and his partnership with Ronaldo really took off in 2006. Over their three years together, they went on to win three league titles, two EFL Cups, a Champions League trophy and the FIFA Club World Cup.
During that period, they won three league titles, two EFL Cups, a Champions League trophy and the FIFA Club World Cup. And while it would be easy to look back at that time and pick out Ronaldo as the best scorer he shared a pitch with at Old Trafford, Rooney actually went with another name: Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The Dutchman was ruthless inside the box, scoring 150 goals across 219 appearances for United. And according to Rooney himself: “I loved playing with him [van Nistelrooy],” via FourFourTwo Magazine.
“He was the first real top striker I played with – Alan Shearer had retired from international duty when I joined up – so him and Dennis Bergkamp were probably England’s top strikers then.”
Wayne Rooney snubs Cristiano Ronaldo as best finisher he played with at Man Utd
Back in 2004, Sir Alex Ferguson did everything he could to bring a young Wayne Rooney from Everton to Manchester United.
In the end, United paid £27m for the deal, and it turned out to be money well spent given the impact Rooney had during his time at Old Trafford.
The club’s all-time top scorer joined just as Ruud van Nistelrooy was wrapping up his prolific spell under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Speaking on his podcast, Rooney named United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy as the best finisher at Man Utd ahead of the likes of Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Van Nistelrooy, I think, [is the] best finisher,” he said on BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show.
Wayne Rooney praises Ruud van Nistelrooy while singling out Darren Fletcher for his Man Utd athleticism
Ruud van Nistelrooy had already established himself as one of Europe’s top finishers by the time he joined United in 2001, and his five seasons at Old Trafford only strengthened that reputation.
The Dutchman scored 150 goals in 219 appearances for United, a remarkable return over that period.
While discussing Van Nistelrooy, Rooney also highlighted Darren Fletcher’s outstanding physical qualities, calling him the best athlete he played alongside at Manchester United.
“Best athlete, Darren Fletcher,” he added. “He was the fittest, always fittest in the running.”
During his time at United, Rooney won five Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, a Europa League trophy, an FA Cup and three League Cups before leaving in 2017.
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