Former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has shared a remarkable story about receiving a personal gift from football legend Diego Maradona, following a night where he was left "fuming" with manager Sir Alex Ferguson. The revelation came during the latest episode of Rooney's BBC Sport podcast, where he discussed his favourite stadiums to play in, naming Real Madrid's Bernabeu as his top choice.
The Bernabeu Match and Ferguson's Controversial Decision
Rooney recounted the 2013 Champions League round-of-16 first leg against Real Madrid, where Manchester United secured a 1-1 draw away from home. "We got a good result," Rooney said. "Danny Welbeck scored a header from my cross for a corner, and we drew the game 1-1." Despite this strong performance, where Rooney played out of position to help the team, Ferguson benched him for the return leg at Old Trafford.
"He left me on the bench for the return leg," Rooney explained. "Alex Ferguson pulled me in and told me I was going to be on the bench, which I was fuming with. I played out of position, did a job for the team, helped us get a good draw away from home, and we got beat 2-1 on the night." This decision left Rooney deeply frustrated, setting the stage for an unexpected encounter later that evening.
An Unlikely Meeting with a Football Icon
After the match, Rooney headed to Wing's, a Chinese restaurant in Manchester popular with Premier League footballers, still wearing his club tracksuit. To his astonishment, he found Diego Maradona inside. "Imagine walking into a restaurant in Manchester and Maradona's just standing there," Rooney mused, describing the surreal moment.
"It was that evening actually—I went to Wing's restaurant in my tracksuit, and Maradona was in there," Rooney said. "I got a picture with him and stuff. He had a full suit on, and tie, and then he gave me his tie. It was a bit weird; he took his tie off, put it on me, my club tracksuit still on." Maradona had been at Old Trafford that night, likely visiting Manchester due to his daughter Giannina's marriage to Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero at the time.
A History of Mutual Admiration
The meeting held special significance, as Maradona had long admired Rooney's talent. A decade before their encounter, Maradona hailed the then-17-year-old Rooney as a "special talent that the English should cherish" after watching his international debut in a Euro 2004 qualifier against Macedonia. "They don't come along that often, players who can go on and become real world-class stars," Maradona prophetically added.
In turn, Rooney idolised Maradona, calling him "the best" in a tribute after the Argentine's death in 2020. This mutual respect made the tie gift even more poignant for Rooney.
Finding Solace in a Strange Souvenir
Reflecting on the night, Rooney noted that the tie remains a cherished keepsake. "Yeah, I've still got it at home," he said. "It was a strange moment, but I was fuming after the game. I had gone out fuming, had a few glasses of wine to drown my sorrows. So I got something good out of the night at least—I got Maradona's tie."
This anecdote highlights how a disappointing sporting decision led to a memorable personal interaction with one of football's greatest icons, blending frustration with a touch of serendipity.
