Wayne Rooney explains why Man Utd legend Paul Scholes is the best player he’s ever played with

Wayne Rooney has played with some of the finest players in Manchester United history (Picture: Getty Images)

Wayne Rooney has picked out Paul Scholes as the best player he ever played alongside at Manchester United, saying that he studied the Red Devils legend as he prepared to move back into midfield late in his career.

Rooney spent 13 years at Manchester United, playing with many of the greatest players in the history of the club as he won five Premier League titles, the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup.

While Cristiano Ronaldo understandably gets a mention from Rooney, it is Scholes that stands out to him as his finest ever teammate.

The current Derby County player/coach tried to take on a similar role to Scholes in central midfield having spent most of his career as a striker.

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Rooney is still trying to do that now with Derby in the Championship and it has made him appreciate the supreme talent of Scholes even more.

‘Scholesy, I think, obviously Ronaldo has gone on, him and Messi, to probably be the best two players to ever play the game,’ Rooney told the official Manchester United podcast when asked about his best ever teammate.

Rooney and Scholes enjoyed incredible success together at Old Trafford (Picture: Getty Images)

‘But I just think at the time, Scholesy was brilliant. The things he could do with the ball, he obviously weren’t the quickest but he was so sharp you couldn’t get near him.

‘I remember knowing that at the backend of my career I’d be going back into midfield so I was almost studying him and watching him in training and games.

‘It was brilliant for me, first hand, to watch him and learn.’

Rooney was asked if he has something of a telepathic understanding with Scholes, which wasn’t the case.

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The 35-year-old explained how it was more Ryan Giggs who he would look to link up with, but Scholes’ ability to play for the team, doing work unseen by many, made him stand out.

‘I’d say more Giggsy I had that [telepathic understanding], Giggsy would give the ball quite a bit, but it was always trying to play us in, and I loved that. I wouldn’t mind players giving the ball away trying things,’ said Rooney.

‘Scholesy was more about controlling the game for us, he was brilliant at things that the fans probably won’t see.

‘Letting players come on to him and then throwing them out the game, small things he was doing for the team that was priceless.’

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