Wayne Rooney 'knew' Sir Alex Ferguson's ex-Man Utd 'impact player' would be 'massive' catalyst for change in football

Wayne Rooney has insisted that the “ability” that one former Manchester United teammate had under Sir Alex Ferguson showed what he was capable of in football.

The 39-year-old former Manchester United and England striker has been out of the managerial dugout since he was axed from his role at Plymouth Argyle in 2024.

Wayne Rooney wasted no time entering the world of coaching towards the tail end of his legendary playing career before transitioning into a football manager.

The United legend, who called it time on his illustrious career as a player in 2021, enjoyed incredible success during his prolific playing spell at Old Trafford.

Rooney became United’s all-time leading scorer after eclipsing fellow Red Devils and England icon Sir Bobby Charlton in the goalscoring chart at the Premier League club.

The former United and England captain lifted five Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, an FA Cup and three League Cups with the Red Devils.

Sir Alex Ferguson first snapped up Rooney when he was only 18 years old after the England and United legend had burst onto the scene at Everton under David Moyes.

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Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo shared a remarkable strike partnership at Old Trafford and the trio were key figures under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ferguson would lose Cristiano Ronaldo first after Real Madrid signed the United legend in a blockbuster £80m transfer in 2009, which was a world-record fee at the time.

United’s iconic former attacking trident suffered the next stage of its break-up after Carlos Tevez’s loan expired in the same window as Ronaldo’s move to Real Madrid.

The Red Devils had loaned Tevez from West Ham in 2007, but the 41-year-old Argentine would then shock the world by signing for Manchester City in 2009.

Rooney has claimed that he always “knew” that former United teammate Tevez would play a “massive part” in the ‘building’ of City’s dominance in English football.

“When Carlos moved to Man City, I was gutted to be honest and I’m pretty sure Carlos wanted to stay at Manchester United,” he said in BBC Sounds’ Football Daily show, as per BBC Sport.

“At the time, City were trying to build, become competitive and win titles.

“I knew that he’d be a massive part of that because of the ability he has and I think we saw that when he went there.”

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Man Utd and England icon Wayne Rooney reveals his true reaction to seeing Carlos Tevez sign for Man City

Carlos Tevez completed his move to the Etihad after Manchester City agreed to sign him for a £25.5m fee and the former United star found success at the club.

The former Argentina international was part of the first City team that lifted the Premier League title in the club’s history, which came in the 2011-12 season.

Rooney admitted that he was “devastated” when Tevez signed for City and the former England skipper had hoped his ex-teammate would have stayed at United.

“He had some great times at Manchester City, so I was devastated,” he added.

“I would have really liked for him to stay longer and to continue to play together.”

Ferguson had previously said that City paid ‘too much’ for Tevez and the former United attacker was always seen as an “impact player” in his eyes.

“I brought Tevez on at half-time [in the 2009 Champions League final] and just felt he was playing for himself a little bit,” he said in his book, as per the Manchester Evening News in 2013.

“From what I could gather, he had already made his mind up before joining City.

“The rumour, not confirmed, was that our Manchester rivals had paid £47million. To me these were incredible sums. To me he was an impact player.”

Tevez, who also lifted an FA Cup with United’s rivals, scored 73 times in 148 matches for City before he left the club and signed for Juventus in 2013.

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