Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has revealed that Argentine striker Carlos Tevez was his favourite strike partner to play alongside during his hugely successful Old Trafford career.
Rooney and Tevez shared the Manchester United dressing room between 2007 and 2009, forming one of the deadliest front lines in Premier League history alongside Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
The deadly trio terrorized both England and Europe during their time together, scoring a combined 120 goals and winning two Premier League titles, one Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Speaking about his relationship with the bullish Argentine striker, Rooney admitted that Tevez was his favourite player to play alongside in attack.
“I think Carlos was my favourite strike partner to play alongside,” Rooney told The BBC.
“Most defenders we played actually hated playing against the two of us and we could feel that. We knew we were nasty as well. Very instinctive, intense, off the cuff. Anything could happen at any moment.”
At the time, Tevez had joined Manchester United on a two-year loan spell but at the expiration of his contract, he surprisingly joined the Red Devils’ local rivals Manchester City, to the ire of Rooney.
“I was gutted to be honest,” Rooney said. “I’m pretty sure Carlos wanted to stay at Manchester United. Man City at the time were trying to build and become competitive and I knew that he’d be a massive part of that because obviously the ability he has.
“I think we’ve seen when he went there, he had some great times there as well. I was devastated, I would’ve really liked him to stay longer and continue to play with him.”
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
