Rooney now Man Utd great, says Carrick
Wayne Rooney should now be mentioned alongside Sir Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best in the list of Man Utd greats, according to Michael Carrick.
Rooney moved clear of Charlton at the top of the club’s scoring list when he notched his 250th goal for the club with a superb stoppage-time free-kick in Saturday’s 1-1 Premier League draw at Stoke.
That has prompted plenty of praise for the 31-year-old, who also surpassed Charlton as England’s record scorer in 2015.
And Red Devils midfielder Carrick has paid his own tribute to a team-mate he feels has regularly hushed the critics who have followed him over the years.
Carrick, Rooney’s long-time colleague at club and international level, told told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme: “It is a sensational achievement.
“To be the record goalscorer for United, and for England, is something you cannot take lightly, and he fully deserves it.
“To play at the level he has done for so long, you can’t underestimate how tough it is to play so many games and have that scrutiny and spotlight on you constantly.
“He has dealt with that and answered back and shut people up over the years when they have questioned him, and he is still going strong today. To be so successful is not easy to do.”
When asked about Rooney in comparison to the likes of Charlton, Law and Best, Carrick said: “They are all legends and icons in their own right, not just for United but for football in general, and Wayne is right up there with the very best of them
“I wouldn’t like to say who is the better one, because they have all achieved major things.
“But for Wayne to get the record for club and country of goalscoring, and so many caps for England and playing so many times for United, it is an incredible achievement and something he should be proud of.”