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WAYNE ROONEY has tipped his old pal Cristiano Ronaldo to still be fab at 40 for Manchester United.The Reds’ greatest ever goalscorer says the five-time Ballon D’Or winner is capable of emulating Ryan Giggs’ achievement in continuing to play Premier League football for United beyond his 40th birthday.
Wayne Rooney has tipped Cristiano Ronaldo to still be fab at 40 for Man UtdCredit: AP:Associated Press
The Portuguese superstar is preparing to make his second debut for the Red Devils on SaturdayCredit: Getty
The Portuguese legend, who turns 37 in February, negotiated a three-year deadline-day deal, and is expected to make his eagerly anticipated second debut for United against Newcastle tomorrow – 12 years after his last appearance for the club.
Rooney says United fans will see a very different Ronaldo to the swashbuckling winger who blew defenders away with his explosive pace and trickery during his formative years at Old Trafford.
But he claims Ron’s eye for goal and poacher’s instinct will see him still terrorising defenders and flexing those famous abs when he hits 40.
Rooney, the scorer of a staggering 253 goals for United, said: “Cristiano’s coming back into the best league in the world, so he knows it is going to be challenging.
“And, of course, coming back to Manchester United, he’ll want to prove himself again at the club, and he sets the highest standards for himself.
“But if there’s one player in the world who can live up to that challenge, it’s Cristiano.

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“I think he’s a completely different player to when he was last playing in the Premier League.
“The last time he played here he was more of a runner, a great dribbler, with pace and power, whereas now he’s a goalscorer. 
“His game has adapted dramatically since then and I’m not at all surprised he is still going strong at 36.
“His ability is obviously one thing, but he’s also looked after himself massively, you can see the shape he’s in, he’s still in great condition.
“So it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s playing until he’s 40, like Giggsy did, and still scoring goals.”
Rooney’s United scoring record may not be in imminent danger as Ronaldo’s 118 goals in 292 games for United leaves him 135 goals off his pace.
What the stars won together at Old TraffordCredit: The Sun
Wayne Rooney, now manager at Derby, quit playing at the age of 35Credit: PA
However United’s master marksman says he admires his mate’s courage in putting himself back in the firing line in the most difficult position on the pitch.
Rooney retired at 35 to prove himself as a manager with Derby County.
But he had moved back into midfield long before then to preserve his legs in his twilight seasons, before heading to the Championship.
It’s a common route for even the greatest players, with midfielders also moving back into defence.
Yet Ronaldo has taken the opposite route and moved from wide areas, into the heart of the action to pit his wits against some of the best defenders in world football.
Rooney believes there are only two players in world football capable of cutting it at that level of intensity.

And he says United’s younger generation might have to run the odd extra mile to help out the old boy!
“The general rule is the older you get, the further back you play,” Rooney explained.
“With Cristiano it’s different and it’s the same with Lionel Messi. Those two players are probably the only two at this level who only play in one half of the pitch.
“It’s box-to-box, high energy defending which uses all your energy. But when you have the ball in one half of the pitch, it’s all about scoring goals.
“The rest of his teammates will have to work a little harder. But if it’s anything like the last time – towards the last two years of playing with him – the team allowed him to do that because Cristiano scores you goals and wins you games.”
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CRISTIANO RONALDO has come a long way since his first Manchester United debut 18 years ago – both on the pitch and physically.The 36-year-old Portuguese legend is back at Old Trafford after completing his remarkable return to the Red Devils on transfer deadline day from Juventus.
Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing for his second debut at Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
The veteran has undergone an incredible transformation into the hulking star we know todayCredit: Getty
He was a skinny teenager when he arrived from Sporting Lisbon back in 2003Credit: Getty
He showed off his incredible physique last week after scoring twice for Portugal against the Republic of IrelandCredit: Rex
United supporters, some of whom even chased after his £160,000 Lamborghini after training today, are desperate to see him wearing the club’s colours again.
So much so that tickets for his expected second coming against Newcastle on Saturday are selling for as much as £2,500.
There is still a slight doubt whether or not the former Real Madrid ace will start or come off the bench.
However, there is zero doubt that the veteran’s body is in completely different shape to his first ever outing for United.
The forward was a work in progress when he arrived at Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon as an 18-year-old.
He made his original bow for them on August 16, 2003, during a 4-0 win over Bolton.

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But even though Ronaldo, who replaced Nicky Butt that day shortly after the hour mark, was already taking care of himself, he was nothing like the Adonis you see today.
And Ronaldo has previously recalled how some felt he was a little too weedy to make it big as a young kid – leading to his incredible desire and work to transform his body into the hulking monster you still see.
He revealed previously: “I remember the first time I heard one of the kids say to another kid, ‘Did you see what he did? This guy is a beast.’
“I started hearing it all the time. Even from the coaches. Then somebody would always say, ‘Yeah but it’s a shame he’s so small.’
“It’s true, I was skinny. I had no muscle. So I made a decision at 11 years old.
“I knew I had a lot of talent, but I decided that I was going to work harder than everybody.
“I started sneaking out of the dormitory at night to go work out. I got bigger and faster.
“I would walk onto the field, and the people who used to whisper, ‘Yeah, but he’s so skinny,’ now they would be looking at me like it was the end of the world.”

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who models his own range of underwear, stays in such amazing shape through a number of high-intensity workouts five times a week.
He gave his legions of fans into what they involve several years ago, saying: “We do a lot of sprinting drills in training and they can be incorporated into your workout whether you are in the gym or outdoors.
“Try and add it to every workout you do. Fit in exercise wherever you can.
“You can do an abs workout in your bedroom when you wake up in the morning or before you go to bed.
“If you get into a routine then it makes it easier as it will become a habit.”
Push-ups are important for Cristiano Ronaldo’s upper body strengthCredit: Instagram @cristiano
Push-ups, bench presses and bench dips are all key to Ronaldo’s training regimeCredit: Nike / Instagram / @cristiano
Cristiano Ronaldo previously arrived at Man utd in 2003 as a weedy teenCredit: Getty
He made his debut that August against Bolton as a sub to replace Nicky ButtCredit: Getty
That explains Ronaldo’s incredible athleticism, but what about his ripped physique?
CR7 regularly updates his social media accounts with pictures of himself training.
For Ronaldo’s upper-body, push-ups, bench presses and bench dips are all key, while pull-ups work the shoulders and back.
Sit-ups, side planks and medicine ball routines hone his toned tummy by working the core.
Ronaldo even sells his own £350 ‘Abs Fit and Twin Body Fit’ set, which he claims helps train abs, biceps, triceps and quads.
And just in case anyone had any doubts that he was starting to let himself slip, he showed off his incredible physique again last week after his late winner for Portugal against Republic of Ireland, just days after sealing his return to United.
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