logo
logo

Watch: Wayne Rooney clatters Cristiano Ronaldo, ft classic Mike Dean

Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo were a devastating duo when playing alongside each other at Manchester United – but they were involved in some explosive clashes when they were on opposition teams.

Ronaldo was infamously involved in Rooney’s red card in England’s quarter-final clash with Portugal at the 2006 World Cup, despite the duo being team-mates at Old Trafford at the time.

But Rooney had introduced himself to Ronaldo while playing for Everton three years earlier with a, shall we say, tough tackle on the winger after clearly growing tired of the Portuguese’s tricks.

Of course the referee had to be Mike Dean, who already had a taste for the dramatics in his officiating, including a grand ‘calm down’ gesture which no doubt only aggravated the players.

Throwback clip of 18 y/o Wayne Rooney cynically chopping down 18 y/o Cristiano Ronaldo. (2003) from r/reddevils


More Manchester United

‘He did the most audacious piece of skill’ – Ronaldo’s early days at Man Utd

Yearning for the Wayne Rooney we all fell in love with at Euro 2004

Where are they now? A ‘new Cristiano Ronaldo’ for every year since 2008

Can you name Man Utd’s top 30 goalscorers in Premier League history?