Former Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic has rated his former Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney as the toughest striker he played against – despite only facing him once in a competitive game.
Vidic made 300 appearances for United between 2006 and 2014, joining from Spartak Moscow and leaving for a solitary year at Inter Milan after his legendary spell at Old Trafford.
He shared 230 of those appearances with Rooney, only appearing more alongside left-back Patrice Evra throughout his career.
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In fact, the only time Vidic ever faced Rooney was in the England striker’s second-ever international cap as a 17-year-old, before joining United.
Nemanja Vidic picks Wayne Rooney over Didier Drogba and Thierry Henry as his toughest opponent
Speaking to former defensive partner Rio Ferdinand as they prepared for an all-star exhibition game in Korea, Nemanja Vidic offered his honest view on the toughest striker he faced in his career.
And despite only coming up against Rooney once in a game back in 2003, Vidic is still well placed to comment on his position among the game’s best strikers.
He said: “Wayne Rooney. Didier Drogba, I faced so many big challenges against him. But training every day with Wayne was intense – he’s powerful and fast.”
Nemanja Vidic still feels one Manchester United player was better than Wayne Rooney, ‘he failed’
Two years ago, Vidic reflected on Rooney’s time at United in another interview with Ferdinand, telling the Vibe with Five podcast: “I think the whole package for me is Cristiano Ronaldo.
“At his age, 18, 19, to 21 to have that mentality to work hard, not go out, fight for your dream, the way he did it he deserves everything he got.”
“For me, Wayne Rooney, he failed in terms of that. He is the one I think, if he was closer in mentality as Cristiano Ronaldo he can achieve much more. Definitely, that is my feeling.
“What brought Cristiano Ronaldo much higher was his mentality to change, to work hard, to improve, to have goals.
“I’m not saying Wayne didn’t have a mentality, but he played pure on his talent. He didn’t invest in his body, invest in extra training, the physical side.”
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