Rooney red card helped him form Ronaldo bond
WAYNE ROONEY has revealed hisWorld Cup red card proved the catalyst for his formidable partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Rooney was sent off in England’s 2006 quarterfinal penalty shoot-out defeat by Portugal, with his then Manchester United team-mate Ronaldo playing a key role in the drama.
Ronaldo called on the ref to show Rooney a straight red
David McDonnell
for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho and was caught winking to indicate ‘job done’ when the England striker was dismissed. But Rooney has now revealed one of the lowest points of his career ultimately proved the springboard for one of his best spells
EYE DID IT: Ronaldo’s infamous wink
– with Ronaldo.After the World Cup controversy, the pair combined to win three straight Premier League titles with United, as well as the Champions League.
Rooney said: “What had happened brought us closer together on the pitch. My red card in Gelsenkirchen was the starting point.”
Rooney has no hard feelings towards Ronaldo for what happened 14 years ago and revealed he tried to get him booked for diving before his own dismissal. “I knew it was a red card and back in the dressing room I watched the rest of the game on a little TV,” said Rooney.
“Of course, when he ran over to ask the ref to send me off, I pushed him away.
“In that moment I couldn’t believe what he was doing. But sitting in that dressing room gave me time to calm down and think.
“I put myself in Ronaldo’s shoes.Would I do the same? Probably.Would I be in the ref’s face to make sure he got sent off? If he deserved the red, if it would help us win — yes, no question. I’d do it tomorrow. I thought, ‘Actually, I tried to get him booked in the first half for diving’ and the wink thing, I didn’t see anything in that at all. It was nothing.
“I went over to him afterwards in the tunnel. He gave me a look as if to say sorry but by then I had my United head on. I said I’ve no issues with you. Enjoy your tournament and good luck.”