Gary Neville has never been one to shy back from critique of current, or past, players. And he has every right to give his opinion. The ex-Manchester United player is one of the most well-known footballers for his tactical abilities, award-winning record with the Red Devils, and long-lasting career in punditry.
But his recent comments towards another ex-United player could be over the top. What do you think?
Gary Neville Criticizes Wayne Rooney
🚨 Up Next: @TrentAA 🚨
🎯 Darts With @GNev2
🧢 Playing Under Jurgen Klopp
👔 New Manager Leading Liverpool
🏆 Competing Against Arsenal and Man City
🔮 The Right Back Evolution
👏 Respect For Rooney & RonaldoWatch now on YouTube and listen on all major podcast platforms.
— The Overlap (@WeAreTheOverlap) April 16, 2024
Wayne Rooney is a Manchester United legend. He rose to fame very young, making his debut as a teenager and cementing his spot in the history books. He went on to play for United from 2004-2017, amassing an incredible 183 goals in 393 appearances over 13 years.
At 17 years old, he made his debut for the England squad, making him the second-youngest player to debut for the country’s national squad. Other country-specific accolades include winning the England Player of the Year, earning 120 international caps, and scoring 53 goals for his country.
So, how could Gary Neville criticize such a decorated footballer?
Gary Neville claims that Ronaldo was a harder worker than Rooney during their time together at Old Trafford. On his most recent podcast episode, he was chatting to super-fast right-back for Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and claimed Ronaldo’s professionalism is what made him a better player than Rooney.
‘When they were both together from 2006 to 2009, they were brilliant. And then Cristiano Ronaldo started to go up like that. Their body shapes were different…Wazza was like a sort of square strong shape.’
Neville hinted at lack of physical fitness, genetic body type, and training regime as one of the main reasons why Ronaldo has continued to get only better, fitter, and faster as he has aged.
‘He (Cristiano) was in the gym every day. Never took a chance with his professionalism at all. Wazza liked to drink. He liked to go out a bit…’
Does choosing what to do in your free time eclipse your playing achievements? We don’t think so.
Also Read: Agony as Arsenal Kicks the Bucket; Title Hopes Over? | April, 2024
Rooney Agrees – Somewhat
Rooney isn’t someone who is going to make excuses for himself or his teammates. And he slightly agrees with what Gary Neville said about his professionalism and lifestyle off the field.
When asked who should be the legendary number nine for Manchester United during a ‘dream team’ selection, Rooney chose Ronaldo.
‘Ronaldo probably is the best goal scorer.’
We love Rooney’s hard-working nature and honesty. Even though Gary Neville thinks that he could have gotten farther with Ronaldo’s level of professionalism and dedication, we think that his career speaks for itself.
About the Author
Emma is an athlete and sports fan who currently plays professional soccer. Growing up, she reached a high level in track and field, distance running, and soccer on both club and university teams.
