Carlos Tevez has named Wayne Rooney as his best strike partner, choosing the former Manchester United forward over Sergio Aguero. The Argentinian played alongside both Manchester icons during his career but picked the United legend as his favourite.
Tevez's Manchester career
Tevez holds a mixed reputation around Manchester after enjoying major success at Manchester United before moving to rivals Manchester City. A productive two-year loan at Old Trafford saw Tevez win consecutive Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Carabao Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup with United.
He then made the controversial switch to the Etihad in 2009, where he later linked up with Argentina team-mate Aguero. Despite the bond with his countryman at City, Tevez could not look beyond Rooney while speaking to former colleague Rio Ferdinand.
Comparing the two partners
"They are very different," said Tevez during an appearance on the Rio Ferdinand Presents channel when asked who was the better partner. "They are different but for me the best player...I don't know how to say. Best partner. Yeah. The best partner."
Tevez, who retired in 2022, spent an identical two-season spell alongside each player. Aguero did not arrive at City until 2011 when Tevez was already established, with his arrival possibly playing a role in the latter eventually leaving for Juventus.
Reflecting on United's attack
It was during Tevez's time at Old Trafford that United enjoyed some of the most prosperous moments in their recent history. Combined with the talents of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ferdinand suggested that United squad could have won four Champions Leagues as Tevez looked back.
"Yeah, I think without meaning to, we ended up with Rooney and with Ronaldo," Tevez replied. "Two players [who were] very, very aggressive, real street players, one who came from England, the other from Argentina, and Cristiano, who gave that team that glamour."
Tevez said Sir Alex Ferguson gave the trio no set instructions on how to play. "No. You know Fergie, you play here, you play here. We'd look at each other and just play, we knew it was down to the three of us," he said. "Cristiano played more on the right back then, but he could, uh, go inside, and Wazza might end up on the right, or I'd end up on the right, and the two of us through the middle."
Ferdinand said Rooney had recently told him Tevez was his favourite attacking partner, and the South American returned the compliment. Tevez affirmed the feeling was mutual, explaining: "Because for me it was easy to play with him. I felt the same passion that he feels for football."
The full interview is available on the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel from 8am UK time on Thursday, October 29.
