MASON GREENWOOD wants to be just like his goal hero Wayne Rooney — even though the pair have never met!
Manchester United’s 18-year-old whizkid amazingly never bumped into the strike legend despite a whole decade at the club together.
Greenwood is out to net his first England U21s goal when facing SwedenCredit: PA:Press Association
But that has not stopped the young forward’s determination to follow in United’s 253-goal record scorer’s boots.
Speaking in his first-ever Press interview, Greenwood — who joined the Red Devils as a six-year-old — said: “Wayne Rooney and the Brazilian Ronaldo have always stood out for me. I’ve always looked up to them.
“Rooney is such a great goalscorer, that is what I want to be.
“He’s done most things on a football pitch and you have to have a role model.
“I’ve never seen him! I’ve seen his games obviously and watched the highlights on YouTube. Hopefully I’ll get to meet him one day.
“Ronaldo was quite a while ago — but my dad used to show me clips of him. He used to play for all those great teams.”
GREEN LIGHT
Rooney made his professional debut for Everton at 16 years and 256 days — but Greenwood was not far behind him, coming on for his United bow aged 17 years and 156 days against Paris Saint-Germain in March.
England’s 53-goal record scorer Rooney quit United 2½ years ago after 13 seasons at the club.
And it is hard to see anyone matching his haul at United.
But Greenwood, who only reached adulthood last month, already has shown promise with three goals this term to repay the faith shown by boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The teenager has been labelled one of the most exciting prospects in United’s system for years.
His target for the rest of the season will be to continue racking up appearances and goals — and to force his way into the Norwegian’s starting XI on a regular basis.
While Rooney is about to resume his career at Derby in January after a stint at DC United, Greenwood can still pick up tips from an established United and England striker in Marcus Rashford, who blazed a similar trail at the club five years ago.
England Under-21 star Greenwood added: “I’ve got so many role models around me and Marcus is another one.
Rooney boasts a record goal haul for club and countryCredit: Getty – Contributor
“I just want to follow in his footsteps. He’s a goalscorer, he shoots off both feet, he’s quick.
“Solskjaer was a great goalscorer at United, too. And he’s a great manager in my eyes.”
Greenwood has a way to go before he matches the lethal finishing of Rooney or Solskjaer — but he has already proved he has more pace than they ever did.
One of his old coaches told a story that the Bradford-born star rocked up to a national 100 metres race when he was 13 — and then won in 13.2sec without even warming up.
But Greenwood explained: “I obviously prepared for the race! It was a northern England event.
“My sister Ashton (now a track athlete) used to do a lot of running.
“Any spare weekends, I used to do a little bit too. It was just another hobby, football obviously took over.” Greenwood was full of running as he made his first start for the Lion Cubs in Shkoder on Friday, helping his side to a 3-0 win over Albania.
He had to show discipline in the first half when playing wide left, before moving to centre-forward after the break.
Greenwood added: “I just went out there and tried my hardest.
“I’m so happy to have started my first one. I just tried to run around and do the best I could.
“It was a different experience. It was a good night for me.”
Under-21 boss Aidy Boothroyd added: “Sometimes you look at Mason and think, ‘Right, OK, what are you going to do,’ then he does a bit of brilliance out of nothing.
“He’s hit a couple of shots and got such power you’re thinking, ‘Wow, where did that come from?’
“Unpredictability is a really good word to sum him up.”
Greenwood starts on Tuesday as England play their final fixture of the year in Doetinchem for a friendly against the Netherlands.
It could be his last chance to play for the Under-21s alongside Manchester City’s Phil Foden, whose performances have been so good for Boothroyd’s side that come next year he could well be with Gareth Southgate’s seniors.
Greenwood added: “Phil’s a good mate — and told me to grab the chance if I get it. He was one of the youngest at the Euros last year, so he’s been in my position.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praises young Man Utd star Mason Greenwood after grabbing Europa League winner against Astana
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
