For 5 seasons Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo lit up Old Trafford with their goals, skill and flair, and now a new duo could reach the same heights.
On 12th August 2003 Manchester United signed who would become arguably the best player in the world. Just aged 18, the winger from Sporting Lisbon made an instant impact at the biggest club in the world.
Cristiano Ronaldo played 39 games in first season as a Red Devil, scoring 6 goals and setting up 7 more. Then, on 31st August 2004, Manchester United signed future England All-Time top goal scorer and soon to be United’s golden boot owner.
In the 2004/05 season Cristiano stepped up his tally to 9 goals and 6 assists in 50 appearances. His new team mate Rooney totalled 17 goals and 5 assists in 43 games.
The pair’s chemistry continued to grow in the following seasons and in 2006/07 the duo put up their first big campaign. The Portuguese winger and English striker combined for an even split of 46 goals and they claimed 38 assists between them.
The following season saw the Ronnie and Rooney strike force lead Manchester United to winning the treble. Wayne was involved in 32 goals which helped Ronaldo reach 42 goals in the season, 31 of which came in the Barclays Premier League.
This incredible season won Cristiano the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2008.
Unfortunately Rooney and Ronaldo were to only spend one more season together as Real Madrid finally got the man they’d been hunting for years. Ronaldo signed for Los Blancos for a record breaking fee of £80 million in the summer of 2009.
11 years on from when Ronnie met Rooney, Manchester United have the potential for another super strike force.
Both Anthony Martial and Memphis Depay came to Old Trafford this season tipped to be some of the greatest young talents in world football. Although it’s very early days, both players have shown that they posses incredible ability.
Wayne Rooney has said that he hopes that the Ant and Dep duo can reach the heights that he did alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
Speaking to United Review, The Red Devils captain had this to say:
“It is hard to say, obviously, but they are certainly two very good players who have lots of talent and ability.
“If they keep learning and progressing like they are, then hopefully they will do what me and Ronaldo did back then. It would be great for the team if they can do that.
“The good thing is that they want to learn and that is good to see in young players.
“They haven’t come in and just done things the way they want to do them.
“They are doing things for the team and listening to what the manager is saying to them. I am sure under this manager they will learn a lot and that will help them become top, top players in the world.”
Ant has been an instant success at United, scoring 6 goals and setting up 3. Dep however is still finding a way to play his game in the Premier League but has shown glimpses of his raw talent.
Although Anthony Martial has played very well on the left wing, he scores a lot more when he’s upfront. Hopefully Memphis has proven himself in training and returns to the line up for the League Cup game tomorrow.
There’s no doubt that, as long as they are given regular game time, the new duo can be extremely successful at Old Trafford. Both players posses enough talent and ability to do so.
