Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney was asked by Gary Lineker whether or not it was “true” that he studied videos of one World Cup winner for research purposes.
Wayne Rooney is widely regarded as one of the best strikers of all time after a prolific playing career at club level and on the international stage.
The 38-year-old Plymouth Argyle boss had a sensational impact at Manchester United and surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton as the club’s all-time leading scorer.
Rooney scored a remarkable 253 times in 559 appearances for the Red Devils, having also served as captain during his time at Old Trafford.
The former United and England striker lifted five Premier League titles, a Champions League, a Europa League, an FA Cup and three League Cups with the Red Devils.
Rooney spent the early part of his United career under Sir Alex Ferguson before the legendary former Red Devils boss announced his retirement in 2013.
The England and United legend subsequently played under David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford before his departure from the club.
Lineker asks Man Utd legend Rooney question
Wayne Rooney has been part of the BBC Sport punditry line-up for Euro 2024 in Germany, despite his recent return to management with Plymouth Argyle.
The former Manchester United captain was in the BBC studio alongside Alan Shearer, Gary Lineker and former Arsenal and Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas.
Lineker asked Cesc Fabregas who was the best finisher he played alongside aside from Lionel Messi, with the World Cup-winning Spaniard picking Robin van Persie.
“I’ve been lucky to play with great players in front of goal,” Fabregas said on BBC Sport.
“But if I had to say one that surprised me the most, and that I saw from a young, early age, throughout his career is Robin van Persie.
“I think Robin was more clinical. His overall play was fantastic and in front of goal, he could always come up with something very, very special. When we were young, hours and hours and hours after training sessions.”
Lineker then turned to Rooney and asked him about playing alongside former Arsenal striker Van Persie and if it was “true” that he studied Fabregas.
“You played with him when he went to Manchester United and you dropped into a [No] 10 role,” Lineker said to Rooney.
“Is it true that you looked at videos of Cesc to see how he played?”
Rooney responds to Lineker over Fabregas question
Sir Alex Ferguson snapped up Robin van Persie from rivals Arsenal in 2012 for a £24m fee and the former Gunners star fired United to the Premier League title.
Van Persie scored an impressive 26 times in 38 Premier League appearances in the 2012-13 campaign, with Ferguson’s men lifting the trophy at the end of the season.
Rooney had played a deeper role in United’s last Premier League title-winning season, with the England legend offering support to former teammate Van Persie.
The former United and Everton striker admitted to Lineker that he had studied Cesc Fabregas in a bid to improve his link-up play with Van Persie at Old Trafford.
“I watched Cesc because I was dropping a bit deeper,” Rooney said.
“Cesc and Robin had a really good relationship, so I knew that would be my role then, so I watched a lot of clips of you [Fabregas].”
When Fabregas asked Rooney if the videos helped him, the United legend said: “Yeah, it did!
“I think I then played a few passes, which you were known more to do for Robin to take the glory then.
“So, I was on the other side. I was the one assisting but, yeah, I watched a lot of you.”