Why Rooney was never bigger than Ronaldo — Nemanja Vidic

Former Manchester United defender, Nemanja Vidic, has criticized his former teammate, Wayne Rooney, for relying on his “pure talent” instead of working hard to achieve more.

Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s FIVE YouTube channel, the Serbian accused Rooney of not investing in his body and extra training to reach his full potential.

Vidic cited Cristiano Ronaldo as an example of a player who worked hard to improve his game and achieve his goals, while Rooney failed in terms of his mentality. “Physically he was amazing, technically as well… but he played pure on his talent,” said Vidic. “He didn’t invest in his body, invest in extra trainings, the physical side.”

Rooney, who is now the manager of MLS team DC United, is widely regarded as one of the greatest English footballers of all time. He broke the record for both Manchester United and England’s all-time scoring record during his career, winning five Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the Champions League and three League Cups, among other trophies and individual awards.

Vidic also discussed his own career, revealing that he nearly signed for United’s rivals Liverpool before joining the Red Devils. He speculated on whether former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher would still rate Virgil van Dijk higher than him if they had both played for the Anfield club.

Vidic’s comments have sparked debate among fans and analysts, with some agreeing that Rooney could have achieved more with a stronger work ethic, while others argue that his talent alone was enough to make him a footballing legend.