Rio Ferdinand: Wayne Rooney is the best centre-forward I played with
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Rio Ferdinand has lauded former Manchester United and England teammate Wayne Rooney as the best number nine he’s played alongside.
The 31-year-old, who recently completed a return to boyhood club Everton from United, enjoyed 10 illustrious seasons with Ferdinand in which they both helped the Red Devils win five league titles and the European Cup in 2008.
Ferdinand, though, first played alongside the teenaged Rooney with the England national team and felt strongly even this early into his career he was physically ahead of those at a similar stage he’s lined-up alongside.
An obvious comparison, given Ferdinand came through West Ham’s esteemed youth academy in the 1990s, is the famous quintet of players then boss Harry Redknapp handed senior debuts to: Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard and Jermain Defoe.
Another group the former England skipper notes is from United’s recent FA Youth Cup winning team: Paul Pogba, Ravel Morrison and Jesse Lingard.
“I’d seen many quality & hyped kids coming through at West Ham United like Joe Cole, Carrick, Lampard, Defoe..and many more over the years since at Man Utd like Pogba, Ravel Morrison, Lingard etc,” he wrote on his official Facebook page.
“But none of these guys could compare with Wayne in terms of being ready physically (built like a middleweight boxer from 10yrs old!!) & his in game maturity with a ball at his feet (awareness, decision making, finding space, and a work ethic that rubbed off on others).”
Though it’s not to say any of those didn’t go on to enjoy stellar careers, instead Ferdinand feels Rooney in comparison was built to hit the ground running, which partly explains his deterioration in recent years.
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Such was the impression Rooney left on many through a plethora of remarkable performances it’s forgotten what an incredible young footballer he was.
Ferdinand has taken upon himself to remind where he stood alongside their ex-teammate and current four-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Even when Manchester United signed a £12m pound Portuguese wonderkid of a similar age by the name of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne was still the more mature footballer at the time.
“Cristiano at the time more interested in showboating while Wayne was all about doing things to affect the game and fit in as a total team player.”
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Obviously, the Portuguese forward kicked on and reached greater heights, but that’s not to say Rooney has stood still. He leaves United as their all-time record goal scorer, in the process becoming England’s most prolific scorer, which Ferdinand feels makes him a legend as well as one of the very best strikers he’s played alongside.
“Wayne done it his way & in doing that has broken long standing goalscoring records for both club & country, and will no doubt go down as one of the best players to wear Manchester United & England shirts.
“He was the best all round centre forward I played with & I played with some greats!”
Rio’s number 9s
Since turning professional in 1996 the London-born defender has represented four different clubs starting with West Ham and finishing at QPR with a spell at Leeds between his stint at the Hammers and Manchester United.
Throughout a near two decade playing career he’s rub shoulders with some of the best number nine’s to grace the Premier League with Rooney, as he’s revealed, the best of the lot.
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Some who could have pushed Rooney close are likely to be John Hartson and Ian Wright whom he shared a locker room with at West Ham as well as Mark Viduka, Robbie Keane and Robbie Fowler at Leeds United.
There is, of course, Dutch duo Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie at United both playing instrumental roles in the Red Devils winning the league title in 2003 and 2013 respectively.
Read more at http://www.squawka.com/news/rio-ferdinand-wayne-rooney-the-best-centre-forward-i-played-with/968821#GBpu6gWUhA71yKPh.99
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