Former Manchester United captain Rooney has pinpointed Darren Fletcher as his top teammate and named Nani as the most challenging to play alongside. The iconic Manchester United figure concluded his illustrious playing career in 2021, transitioning into management with Derby County after 13 successful years at Old Trafford where he secured 16 trophies, including five Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy.
Rooney achieved the status of being the all-time leading goalscorer for both Manchester United and the England national team. He took on the captaincy for the Three Lions after the World Cup. With these accomplishments, the 38-year-old has had the privilege of having numerous outstanding players as his teammates.
The current manager of Birmingham City, Rooney shared the field with football legends such as Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, and Frank Lampard. However, it is the former United midfielder, Fletcher, who particularly stands out among them.
“My best team-mate, I’d say Darren Fletcher,” Rooney told Rob Burrow in his podcast Seven. “There were a few – John O’Shea, Wes Brown, Michael Carrick – we were all really close. But Fletch was probably the one. We sat next to each other in the dressing room and shared really good moments on and off the pitch together.”
Rooney was also asked to name his worst teammate and surprisingly named former winger Nani, who once become renowned for his assists to Rooney. He added: “My worst team-mate – there are a lot more than you’d probably think!
“On the pitch, the toughest one was Nani. He was frustrating to play with.”
Both Nani and Fletcher departed from Manchester United in 2015. Fletcher pursued his career in England with West Brom and Stoke before retiring. Currently, he has returned to United as a technical director.
Nani, on the other hand, is still an active player, currently with Adana Demirspor. Since leaving Old Trafford, he has had a diverse career, playing in Turkey, Spain, Portugal, the USA, Italy, and Australia.