Two names that are commonly linked to Manchester United’s most recent golden age are Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.
Both players emerged as extraordinary talents around the same time, with Ronaldo joining from Sporting Lisbon in 2003 and Rooney joining Carrington from Everton a year later, according to Manchester Evening News.
During his six-year tenure at United, Ronaldo earned a Ballon d’Or, but Rooney went on to become the team’s all-time best goal scorer.
Their chemistry was clear on and off the field during the course of their five seasons together at Old Trafford. It was the same arena where they took the lead in matches and made jokes about Sir Alex Ferguson and their more sober teammates.
But when the 39-year-old Ronaldo made a historic transfer to Real Madrid in 2009, the partnership came to an end.
There were highs and lows in their friendship at United.
The 2006 World Cup quarterfinal between England and Portugal proved problematic after a 20-year-old Rooney stamped on defender Ricardo Carvalho’s groin, according to the Mirror.
Ronaldo went over to protest as his clubmate was sent off, hoping to influence the referee.
As a result, a furious Rooney shoved Ronaldo, who then winked to his bench to incite even greater indignation.
