Wayne Rooney believes Cristiano Ronaldo was the player who “would win you the game.”
Rooney joined Manchester United from Everton in 2004, with Cristiano Ronaldo joining the season before. While the players alongside them regularly changed, they were both near constants in United’s attack under Alex Ferguson.
Both players won every domestic cup under Ferguson and also secured the Champions League with a win against Chelsea in 2008.
There were times early in their respective careers where it was not clear who was the better player, but ultimately Ronaldo outstripped the England striker and continues to play to this day, for the Portugal national team and in the Saudi Pro League for Al Nassr.
Rooney was most recently manager at Birmingham City before being relieved from the position after a terrible time at the club, and talking to Sky Bet , he revealed he understood why Ferguson gave Ronaldo more licence up front and asked Rooney to play for the team.
He said: “[Cristiano Ronaldo] would win you the game. From a defensive point of view there was just more trust [in me]. Obviously if I played out wide, I would do my job, I would get back and help out defensively where Cristiano probably wouldn’t do it, and then he’s a threat [going forward], he pins their full back, back.
“Obviously I wanted to play in my position [as a centre forward], but that’s where the manager probably got it right in terms of the team winning and being successful, we probably needed that. I wasn’t really interested in individual awards. I always wanted to win with the team, that was always my goal.”
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