WHEN Wayne Rooney joined Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United there was only one player who was going to become THE world starWhile the jury was still out on the gangly step-over king from Portugal, Rooney was the real deal.

Fast forward to today. While Ronaldo regularly challenges Lionel Messi for the crown of the world’s greatest player, Rooney does not.

Ronaldo has now scored almost as many goals for Madrid in four seasons (185) as Rooney has in nine for United (194).

Take the very highest level in club football. While Rooney has 27 in the Champions League, Ronaldo has an astonishing 45. For many people, he has simply accelerated away on to a different level.

Yet take United’s 1-1 draw in Madrid as one example and you perhaps start to see a different picture.

While Ronaldo was allowed to roam free, Rooney was given a specific role.

He has long since stopped being the man on the shoulder of the last defender, the fulcrum of all striking options. Rooney’s versatility means he is here, there and everywhere, depending on the opposition and situation.

So while Ronaldo was causing menace in the box, Rooney was operating in a right-midfield role, often dropping deep and trying to help his defence to counter the effectiveness of Real going forward.

It was a role he also played to great effect in the 2008 semi-final of the Champions League against Barcelona, when his side got a crucial goalless draw in the Nou Camp — a night Ronaldo missed a penalty by the way.

Indeed, in the last two seasons of Ronaldo’s career at Old Trafford, it was Rooney who was willing to make way for a player who was emerging as one of the greatest attacking forces.

Rooney was happy to go wide, deep, off the frontman, act as a wing-back... whatever the manager wanted. After the game in Madrid, one article said Rooney had now simply turned into a workhorse. But what manager would not want a player with that versatility?

Take note of his display on Saturday against Norwich, in which he was happy to feed Shinji Kagawa for two of his three goals before a wonderful strike of his own.

He is someone Alex Ferguson can ask to perform any role, safe in the knowledge that, first, the player will not moan about it, but secondly he will do it and do it well.

Maybe we have seen the very best of him at 27. Maybe, like Ronaldo and Messi, he will never stamp his mark on a major tournament for his country.

But also, looking back, maybe United would never have achieved much of what they have over the last decade without Rooney.

In that sense, he is a player who has made a difference — and still does.

Last season, when United lost the title on goal difference, Rooney enjoyed his best season in front of goal, scoring 34 — the same he had got two seasons previously.

But the team finished empty-handed. So boss Ferguson went out and got an even better goalscorer and asked Rooney to adapt to the new arrival.

This he has done. While he no longer gets the headlines Robin van Persie does, while Ronaldo’s performances may have overshadowed him of late, do not underestimate Rooney.

Nobody in their ranks can still match his passing accuracy, his vision, movement, workrate and downright selflessness for the cause.

Perhaps that means he is not always in the spotlight but he still does a job and has the same hunger.

Some believe he does not make the difference any more in big games.

But had he not played in the Bernabeu, Real Madrid would have had more of the ball and, with it, possibly got a more positive result.

So we come to tomorrow night at Old Trafford and what an occasion it will be. I know I’m not popular there, so I will not be losing any support when I say Real will edge it.

I can see them going through on away goals after a 2-2 draw.

In the Prem you can make a mistake and recover. In this competition, one moment can make the difference.

That is why I fear United may end up looking back on that missed chance by Van Persie in the Bernabeu as a crucial moment.

Ronaldo will shine on his return, I have no doubt. Rooney may be in his shadow again, but his role will be equally as crucial — and that should not be forgotten.

@Heisinburg And hasn't Messi proved he can score against English teams already? He's scored twice in two meetings against United in the CL final, and he's even scored 4 past Arsenal in one game. He just hasn't been able to score against Chelsea.

@Heis well regardless of the league the player plays in. Muller scored 85 goals in one year yet he is hailed as one of the greatest. Maradona dominated Italian league. Pele trashed Brazilian team. You get where Im heading? a player doesnt need to prefrom just in the BPL to be a great player. If Rooney truly was in the same level as Ronaldo and Messi he would prove it. Not only in EPL but also CL, FA, and Carling Cup. 

He does. 

3 CL finals, man. 

O:)

@raimondo

You can't deny the fact that Rooney is still one of Manchester United's greatest ever forwards. Perhaps his skill is not on par with Ronaldo or Messi, but Rooney still deserves plenty of credit in his own right. And like people said, Rooney's position is similar to Messi's. Neither of them play as a true forward, but rather as a false nine.

I never denied he was a great player I just don't think he is as good as Ronaldo or Messi, that is all. 

@raimondo: I think you're right about that, certainly.

Guys not this AGAIN

DonAndres, sorry to break it to you, but in a way Rooney is much better than Iniesta. Iniesta is recognised more because of his international duty in Spain, and given the facts yes, he was amazing, but he simply cannot play as well as Rooney

Raimondo, you may as well give up :)

@ramaboy

Iniesta and Rooney play different positions with different roles and playing styles. You can't compare them just like that. You need more statistical basics. :P

@dynastian

stats aren't everything boss

Comparing Iniesta and Rooney is like comparing Sergio Ramos to Luis Suarez

Rooney can never be a play maker like Iniesta and Iniesta can never be a goal poacher like Rooney. Simple !!

I think a lot of these people have never seen Rooney actually play. ;) Rooney and Iniesta is a pretty fair comparison, in terms of what they bring to the team.

Here's a compilation of Rooney's ASSISTS only. Look at the touch, the vision and the precision of the passes. The one thing he doesn't have is the silky dribble of Don Andres, but he makes up for it by having a physical dribble instead.

And don't forget: this is only 2004-2008, too. Back when he was known for being just a striker. His play-making role has been developed even further over the last 4 years.

In short, he's a number 10. A Genre changed and forgotten..