Tottenham star James Maddison didn’t hesitate for one moment in singling out one Manchester United legend as the best Premier League player of all time.
James Maddison was previously linked with a transfer to Manchester United during his time at Leicester City before he moved to his current side Tottenham in 2023.
The 27-year-old former Leicester City star left the King Power after the Foxes were relegated and Maddison signed for Spurs in a move worth £40m.
Maddison has been a key player under Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, who arrived at Spurs in 2023 after he left Scottish side Celtic.
He has made nine appearances across all competitions for Ange Postecoglou’s men this season, with Maddison scoring twice and picking up three assists.
Maddison names Premier League ‘GOAT’
Speaking to TNT Sports, James Maddison took part in a Q&A and the Tottenham player was asked to name the best Premier League player of all time.
Maddison has talked up the influence that Wayne Rooney has had on him in the past and picked the Manchester United legend as the Premier League ‘GOAT.’
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“We’re gonna go [with] Wayne Rooney,” he said.
Wayne Rooney is considered one of the best Premier League strikers of all time after his sensational impact in England’s top-flight league.
The 38-year-old ex-United striker made a name for himself at Everton after bursting onto the scene and he caught the eye of former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Sir Alex Ferguson agreed a deal worth £27m to bring Rooney to Old Trafford, with the former Everton star leaving behind a long-lasting impact at United.
Rooney would shatter United legend Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time goalscoring record at the Premier League side and enjoyed incredible silverware success at the club.
Maddison on Rooney’s influence
During his time at Old Trafford, Wayne Rooney lifted five Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, a Europa League, an FA Cup and three League Cups.
Maddison revealed that the England and United legend was a “big” influence for him in his childhood and loved how Rooney played with a “personality.”
“I love Wayne Rooney and in more recent times when I started to know a little more about football and we were in the academy and there was more of a realistic chance of becoming a footballer,” he said in 2023, as per the Peeblesshire News.
“I loved Philippe Coutinho when he was at Liverpool and David Silva, who had 10 brilliant years at [Manchester] City.
“Christian Eriksen when he first came to Spurs. I would probably say Rooney was the big one in my childhood. I used to love Wazza.
“Again, he was someone who played with personality. He was a bit more feisty than me – a bit harder into a tackle – but his personality and the way he came through in the way he played. And that’s what I enjoy.”