Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney has disclosed which of his former teammates he considers to be the greatest.
Many regard Rooney as one of the greatest players ever to wear a Manchester United shirt, alongside legends like Cristiano Ronaldo, George Best, and Bobby Charlton.
The former captain made over 500 appearances for the Red Devils and played alongside several of the club’s most distinguished players.
However, when asked to name the best teammate he had ever played with at United, Rooney gave an unexpected answer.
During an appearance on rugby league legend Rob Burrow’s podcast, Rooney was asked who his favorite teammate at United was.
He responded: “Best teammate? I’d say Darren Fletcher, he’s my best mate.
There were others like John O’Shea, Wes Brown, and Michael Carrick with whom I was close. But Fletch was probably the closest. We sat next to each other in the dressing room and shared many great moments both on and off the pitch. We’re very good friends, so I’d say Darren Fletcher is my best teammate and closest friend.”
Rooney and Fletcher spent an impressive 11 years together at Old Trafford. Fletcher, a product of the academy, joined the senior team two years before Rooney, who had moved from Everton.
Together, they played 228 matches, with only six other United players featuring alongside Rooney more frequently than Fletcher.
The pair were together from the beginning of their time at the club until Fletcher left in 2015.
After retiring from playing in 2019, Fletcher, now 40, returned to United as a youth coach in 2020. He was later promoted to technical director but was replaced by Jason Wilcox in April, though Fletcher continued as a first-team coach.
On the podcast, Rooney also shared who he considered his least favorite teammate at United, saying, “My worst teammate… there are more than you might expect! On the pitch, the toughest was Nani. He was frustrating to play with.”
Wayne Rooney, widely regarded as one of Manchester United’s greatest players, recently shared his thoughts on who he considers his best and least favorite teammates during his time at the club. Surprisingly, Rooney named Darren Fletcher as his best teammate. During an appearance on rugby league legend Rob Burrow’s podcast, Rooney revealed that Fletcher, his closest friend at United, was his favorite. He described their strong bond: “We sat next to each other in the dressing room and shared many great moments both on and off the pitch.”
Rooney and Fletcher spent 11 years together at Old Trafford, playing 228 matches alongside each other. Fletcher, who joined the senior team two years before Rooney, went on to have a long career with United before departing in 2015. After retiring in 2019, Fletcher returned to Manchester United as a youth coach and later served as a first-team coach following a brief stint as technical director.
When asked about his least favorite teammate, Rooney candidly mentioned Nani, stating that the Portuguese winger was “frustrating to play with” on the pitch, pointing out the challenges of playing alongside him.
Rooney’s comments provide an interesting insight into his experiences and relationships with his former teammates at Manchester United.
