'I pretended to be Owen on the street - but you can't compare us'

Who was amended astatine nan property of 17 - Michael Owen aliases Wayne Rooney?

It's a statement that's been sweeping societal media during nan past week aft Owen backed himself against his erstwhile England team-mate.

Now Rooney has had his opportunity - and he's been diplomatic.

"Michael and I are very different players," he said connected nan latest section of The Wayne Rooney Show, which you tin now perceive to connected BBC Sounds.

"I utilized to spell retired connected nan thoroughfare and dress to beryllium Michael Owen - moreover though he played for Liverpool."

The statement began erstwhile erstwhile Liverpool and England striker Owen said connected a caller Rio Ferdinand podcast: "I saw Wazza sewage asked who was nan champion retired of america astatine nan property of 17 aliases 18. And I did smile."

After being asked really he compared to different players astatine nan aforesaid age, Owen said: "The only personification you could perchance comparison maine to successful our state is Wayne Rooney."

On Friday, BBC Match of nan Day's X relationship asked - who was amended aged 17, Michael Owen aliases Wayne Rooney?, external

And Owen replied claiming that he was.

Rooney, who is six years younger than Owen, said: "I deliberation his comments are fair. Of course, he's going to backmost himself. I'd backmost myself.

"But, I'd ne'er judge myself against Michael Owen because he's personification I really looked up to and had nan pleasance of playing alongside [for England and Manchester United]."

Rooney is 2nd connected nan England team's all-time starring scorer list; Owen is sixth.

But injuries curtailed Owen's profession and nan past of his 40 England goals came astatine nan property of 27.

He won nan Ballon d'Or astatine 22 while astatine Liverpool and besides went connected to play for Real Madrid, Newcastle, Manchester United - pinch Rooney - and Stoke.

Owen scored 222 goals successful 482 nine games earlier retiring aged 32.

Rooney managed a longer, much successful profession - scoring 313 nine goals successful 763 games for Everton, United, DC United and Derby.

He is United's all-time apical scorer pinch 253 goals and was England's apical scorer connected 53 earlier Harry Kane passed him.

Rooney won nan Champions League, which Owen didn't, and 5 Premier League titles - pinch Owen winning only one, alongside Rooney successful 2010-11.

But nan statement present is astir them arsenic teenagers, truthful fto america person a look.

Owen laid retired nan lawsuit for himself erstwhile replying to nan MOTD post.

"At 17 I scored 18 PL goals (winning nan Golden Boot), Wazza scored 6. At 18 I again scored 18 goals (again winning nan Golden Boot and coming 4th successful The Ballon d'Or), Wazza scored 9," he wrote.

Owen's stats see nan property he was astatine nan commencement of a season. He turned 18 midway done that first 18-goal season.

He continued: "In our opening 7 seasons, Wazza didn't outscore maine erstwhile (117 goals v 80). In which clip I became nan 2nd youngest Ballon d'Or victor ever.

"Injuries hindered maine from past connected while he sustained his level. Therefore, he'll spell down arsenic a amended subordinate than me. But, astatine 17, please……"

Owen, who had devastating gait earlier his injuries, won 2 Premier League Golden Boots for Liverpool earlier turning 20 - while Rooney ne'er won one.

Also astatine 18 he scored doubly for England astatine nan 1998 World Cup, including a celebrated solo effort against Argentina.

He was 22 erstwhile he won nan Ballon d'Or successful 2021.

Rooney burst connected to nan segment astatine Everton pinch a celebrated long-range victor against Arsenal successful October 2002 erstwhile he was aged 16 - which made him nan youngest Premier League goalscorer astatine nan time.

He scored 9 goals for England earlier his 19th day - including 4 astatine Euro 2004.

Rooney was nan youngest goalscorer successful England history and nan youngest European Championship scorer ever astatine nan clip (although that grounds only lasted days).

On his BBC podcast, he would not opportunity who was amended aged 17.

"I wholly understand what he's saying," said Rooney.

"But we're 2 wholly different footballers - different styles, different techniques. Michael Owen, for a 3 aliases four-year period, was astir apt nan champion centre guardant successful nan world.

"I deliberation group do hide really really bully he was.

"It's difficult to reason against anyone coming up against Michael Owen then. Unfortunately, he did get his injuries and he astir apt couldn't accommodate his crippled possibly arsenic good arsenic I could successful playing from nan broadside aliases going backmost into midfield."

Rooney and Owen played 52 times together - 25 for England and 27 for United, who Owen joined erstwhile he was 29 and past his peak.

"It was an honour for maine to play pinch him. I really did look up to him erstwhile I was young and we had very akin pathways successful position of we some travel into nan England squad rather young and past we played together," Rooney said.

"We astir apt didn't get nan champion retired of each different erstwhile we did play alongside each other.

"And, actually, he assisted me, I think, much than I did him, which you'd astir apt deliberation it should beryllium nan different measurement around."

Rooney besides thinks Owen's estimation arsenic being boring is unmerited.

"He is 1 of nan funniest group you'll meet," he said. "I dream he conscionable gets that retired because everyone who played pinch him, we cognize what a bully lad he is, and sometimes that doesn't ever travel across."