Wayne Rooney is a 'freckled demon' and a 'hooligan' according to Spanish newspaper
Manchester United striker targeted ahead of Champions League tie against Real Madrid
Tuesday 12 February 2013
Related articles
-
Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes misses trip to Real Madrid
-
Manchester United must not be daunted by Real Madrid, says Jonny Evans
-
Gary Neville warns Manchester United about possible 'nightmare scenario' against Cristiano Ronaldo
-
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reveals ambition to manager Manchester United
Spanish daily newspaper Marca has described Wayne Rooney as a “freckled demon” ahead of Manchester United's visit to the Bernabeu.
The current Premier League leaders take on Real Madrid in a last-16 Champions League tie, and it is United's England centre-forward who has been singled out by the Spanish press.
Rooney is featured on the front page of the Madrid-based newspaper under the headline "El Coco", which means 'bogey man'.
The article goes on to describe the former Evertonian as "a barrell packed with gunpowder", and "a football player and hooligan rolled into one".
The article written by Hugo Cerezo read: "Wayne Rooney is a football player and hooligan all rolled into one. To look at him, you'd think he was one of the 4,000 British fans on the terraces … yelling and drinking beer and jumping the queue to get in through Gate D.
"But Rooney will run out on to the turf at the Bernabeu and face players who have bones to pick with him. Pepe, [Ricardo] Carvalho, [Iker] Casillas and Cristiano Ronaldo may well relive their encounters with the English bad boy."
The article will only raise the temperature ahead of a game described by Jose Mourinho as the one "the world is waiting for".
The "bones to pick" reference is in relation to a number of incidents Rooney has been involved in over the years.
When playing for England at the 2006 World Cup, Rooney stamped on Ricardo Carvalho and as he was sent off, Ronaldo was seen winking at the Portuguese bench.
Rooney was also involved in a confrontation with Iker Casillas when England played at the venue for tomorrow's match eight years ago. The United striker was substituted in that match with the player seemingly at risk of being sent off in a game tarnished by racist chanting by the home fans.
Last season, Rooney tweeted that Pepe was an idiot after the Real Madrid defender trod on Lionel Messi's hand.
Wayne Rooney has said of tomorrow's match: "I've played at the Bernabeu once before for England against Spain, but it wasn't a good experience to be honest," Rooney said on his Facebook page.
"I got subbed just before half-time, and didn't really get many touches because Spain kept the ball really well.
"Hopefully this time it will go a lot better."
Latest in Sport
Sport blogs
On The Road at the Giro d’Italia: It sounds sadistic, but the team live for the mountain stages
Three weeks ago as I drove off the Eurostar, I remember thinking what a very long time it was until ...
by Martin Ayres
23 May 2013 05:29 PM
iBet: Rose has the ammunition for Wentworth
McDowell did brilliantly to land the World Match Play title in Bulgaria last week, but it’s a format...
by Gareth Purnell
23 May 2013 09:13 AM
Brits on fire in the wet at Le Mans!
Wow - what a weekend for British Motorcycle racing!
by Luke Wilkins
22 May 2013 05:00 AM
-
David Moyes delighted after Rio Ferdinand agrees to stay at Manchester United with new one-year contract
-
On-loan goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois still believes in Chelsea youth policy
-
After racist remark, Sergio Garcia fights for reputation as Tiger Woods slams 'hurtful' fried chicken joke
-
Manuel Pellegrini must decide on futures of Carlos Tevez, Gareth Barry and Joleon Lescott as Manchester City name starting date for new manager
-
Liverpool striker Andy Carroll delays over West Ham move
- 1 Man and woman arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder victim of Woolwich machete attack, named as Drummer Lee Rigby
- 2 'Sickening, deluded and unforgivable': Horrific attack brings terror to London’s streets
- 3 Grace Dent: I’m not sure how these people can avoid being called ‘bigots’. And the more ‘civilised’, the worse they are
- 4 Woolwich murder: They killed, then they performed - these men should be starved of our attention
- 5 Woolwich attack: The EDL will seek to exploit this evil crime for their own evil ends
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
Visit York
Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world
Making reading fun for kids
Nook is donating eReaders to volunteers at high-need schools and participating in exclusive events throughout the campaign.
Introducing the 'Get Reading' campaign
Get the latest on The Evening Standard's campaign to get London's children reading.
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
The man who's eaten everywhere
The 10 Best salt and pepper sets



Comments