Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney ruled himself out of the running for the best finisher of all time and he had only one name in mind.
Wayne Rooney is widely regarded as one of the best Premier League players of all time and the Manchester United legend had a prolific impact at Old Trafford.
Former Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson brought Rooney to the Premier League club in 2004 after United signed him from Everton in a deal worth £27m.
Rooney burst onto the scene at boyhood club Everton under David Moyes and the United legend went on to thrive under Sir Alex Ferguson at the Red Devils.
The 39-year-old former England striker lifted five Premier Leagues, a Champions League, a Europa League, an FA Cup and three League Cups at United.
Rooney continued his career at Old Trafford long after Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 and he later became United club captain under former manager Louis van Gaal.
The Red Devils legend is considered one of the best Premier League strikers in history and Rooney eclipsed Sir Bobby Charlton as United’s all-time leading scorer.
READ MORE: Roy Keane told he ‘never overcame’ one thing and it held him back as manager, Man Utd legend would argue otherwise
Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images
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Wayne Rooney’s choice for best finisher is what Man Utd legend Roy Keane would fully approve of
Roy Keane was still captain of Manchester United when Sir Alex Ferguson landed former Everton striker Wayne Rooney when he was only 18 years old.
Rooney shared the pitch with a star-studded roster of talent at Old Trafford, including fellow Red Devils legends Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Ruud van Nistelrooy would leave United in 2006 after a falling out with former United manager Ferguson and he was sold to La Liga club Real Madrid.
The 48-year-old United legend spent five seasons at Old Trafford after he was signed from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in 2001 and he was a devastating finisher.
Van Nistelrooy scored a remarkable 150 times in 219 appearances for United and the Dutchman lifted a Premier League title, an FA Cup and a League Cup with the club.
Speaking to TikToker ‘ben,’ England legend Rooney was asked to name the best finisher of all time and he picked out Van Nistelrooy ahead of himself.
“The best one… no, no [picking himself], the best one I seen and played with Ruud van Nistelrooy,” he said.
READ MORE: Wayne Rooney names best English player of all time after ruling himself out, Sir Alex Ferguson would argue another pick
What Roy Keane said about Ruud van Nistelrooy’s finishing ability sums up Man Utd legend perfectly
Roy Keane holds Ruud van Nistelrooy in high regard and the legendary former United captain didn’t think twice about calling him the best finisher of all time.
“There was a Champions League game last season, United played Bayern Munich, and Danny Welbeck went through, one on one with the keeper,” he wrote in his autobiography, ‘The Second Half,’ in 2014.
“He missed it. Ruud van Nistelrooy wouldn’t have. Ruud was the best finisher, ever, but especially in one-on-one situations, just the keeper to beat.
“When Ruud was going through, one on one, I never doubted him. Some players would be going, ‘F—–’ hell – hard and low? Or dink it over?,’ but when Ruud was through there might as well have been no goalkeeper.”
Van Nistelrooy, who is currently the manager of Leicester City, saw out the tail end of his career at Hamburger and Malaga before he retired from football in 2012.