• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Wayne Rooney says he'd start Lionel Messi, bench Harry Kane and drop Cristiano Ronaldo if given choice

Home> Football

Updated 21:00 20 Nov 2022 GMTPublished 17:18 20 Nov 2022 GMT

Wayne Rooney says he'd start Lionel Messi, bench Harry Kane and drop Cristiano Ronaldo if given choice

The former Man Utd forward said: "He [Ronaldo] isn't playing for his club, so..."

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

Wayne Rooney was asked to start, bench or drop players from a line-up of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane during a recent appearance on Indian TV – and his response has unsurprisingly gone viral.

It has been an eventful week for both Rooney and Ronaldo, who appeared to call his former teammate "a rat" during the second part of his tell-all interview with Piers Morgan.

When the subject of money and fame cropped up in conversation, Morgan asked: “More pounds in the bank or more Instagram followers?”

Advert

Ronaldo replied: “That’s a good question! Probably similar!" before the presenter responded: “I’m just trying to work out how Wayne Rooney could hate you even more!”

The United forward hit back: “Not only him, imagine the rest of the rats they are going to criticise me too, but it is good to still be the number one.”

Rooney responded to those "strange" comments made by Ronaldo when he attended the 2022 Global Soccer Awards in Dubai on Thursday, where he mentioned that "age comes us all" in regards to his current form.

"Well, listen, Cristiano Ronaldo's a fantastic player and, as I've said before, he and Messi are the two best players probably to play the game," he said.

Advert

"And, again, it's not a criticism. What I've said is age comes to all of us, and Cristiano is obviously feeling now that he's finally had to deal with that.

"Obviously, he's done an interview, and it's gone global, and it's strange, some of the comments are strange.

"But I'm sure Manchester United will deal with it once they've seen the full interview, and they will take whatever action they need to take."

Image credit: Alamy
Image credit: Alamy

Advert

And on Sunday afternoon, ahead of Qatar's World Cup opener against Ecuador in Al Khor, the subject of Cristiano Ronaldo was brought up again during Rooney's appearance on Indian TV network JioCinema.

Rooney, who was joined on the punditry panel by former Arsenal pair Sol Campbell and Robert Pires, was asked who he'd start, bench and drop from a star-studded line-up.

The former United forward said: "I'd have to start Messi, bench Kane and leave Ronaldo out."

Seconds later and the presenter hit back: "Somebody isn't getting a Christmas card this year," before the no-nonsense Rooney added: "He's not playing for his club, so..."

No messing from the former England man. Earlier on in the season, Rooney was asked if Manchester United were a better team with Cristiano Ronaldo in the side.

Advert

“No, I don’t think so," he told talkSPORT. “Him and Messi are arguably the two best players of all-time and you can go either way with that, whatever way you decide.

“But I just think the things he has done from the start of the season, it is not acceptable for Manchester United. I’ve seen Roy Keane defending him. Roy wouldn’t accept that. Roy wouldn’t accept that at all.

“It is a distraction which Manchester United don’t need at the minute, trying to rebuild.

“For Cristiano, just get your head down and work and be ready to play when the manager needs you. If he does that, he will be an asset. If he doesn’t, it will become an unwanted distraction.”

Featured Image Credit: Twitter/JioCinema

Topics: Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Football World Cup, Manchester United, Portugal

Jack Kenmare
Jack Kenmare

Jack is a Senior Journalist who enjoys a long read. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of Football Manager wonderkids from 2005 to the present day, and has interviewed a handful of FM's finest, including Freddy Adu, Supat Rungratsamee and Mika Aaritalo.

X

@jackkenmare_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

24 mins ago
2 hours ago
  • 24 mins ago

    Liverpool fans slam Trent Alexander-Arnold's brother after talented wonderkid rejects new deal to sign for Premier League rival

    Trent Alexander-Arnold may have left Liverpool but the club's supporters are still furious with his brother and agent.

    Football
  • 2 hours ago

    Roy Keane was challenged to fight by former Premier League manager who claimed Man Utd legend 'is not as tough as he makes out'

    Roy Keane is considered one of football's last hardmen

    Football
  • 2 hours ago

    Viktor Gyokeres 'splits from model girlfriend' to 'remove all ties to Portugal' after she makes feelings clear on preferred transfer decision

    The reason behind Viktor Gyokeres ending his relationship with Ines Aguiar has been revealed.

    Football
  • 2 hours ago

    Lamine Yamal received offer to leave Barcelona in transfer that would have changed football history but Xavi blocked it happening

    The Spain and Barcelona winger recently penned a new deal at the La Liga champions, but things could've played out differently.

    Football
  • Wayne Rooney snubbed Lionel Messi when picking the one player he wishes he played with
  • Wayne Rooney is being lined up for unthinkable new managerial role just months after being sacked by Plymouth
  • Wayne Rooney builds his 'perfect footballer' including Lionel Messi and Man Utd legend
  • Wayne Rooney admits he was 'devastated' by Man Utd transfer and claims he 'wanted to stay' at Old Trafford