ROONEY WAS EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL
Rio explained how he had never seen anything like his new team-mate’s amazing debut for the Reds, when the youngster bagged a hat-trick against Fenerbahce in the Champions League.
Despite having also played with Cristiano Ronaldo as he matured into one of the greatest footballers of all time, the impact made by the teenage Merseysider has never left the classy centre-back.
“No other player made us feel like this,” he said. “I remember looking around at Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ryan Giggs and saying we’ve got a superstar here. You were like an alien. No other player made me feel that. Ronaldo had an immediate impact but it wasn’t what you did.”
GOING OFF-ROAD
The sheer delight shown by both when grabbing hold of the wheel of the Grenadier for a bit of off-road driving contrasted sharply with the absolute terror on the face of the passenger!
“You ain’t well, man!” complained Ferdinand, as Rooney chucked the vehicle around, claiming appreciatively when screeching to a halt: “It was sick that, you know.”
The next challenge was for Rio to climb an incredibly steep and rocky hill but the Grenadier took the task in its stride, supporting the ex-players’ cheeky plea for Sir Jim Ratcliffe to get them one!
