Ronaldinho: Rooney would walk into any national team squad

Feb 4, 2013 10:35:00 AM

Ahead of Brazil's friendly clash with England on Wednesday, the 32-year-old has hailed the Manchester United striker, insisting he would improve any other country's team

Brazil attacker Ronaldinho has expressed his belief that England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney would walk into any national team squad.

The Englishman netted his 10th Premier League goal of the season on Saturday, as he helped his club side to a vital 1-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage ahead of the international break.

And, speaking ahead of the friendly clash between Brazil and England which has been organised as part of the FA's 150th anniversary celebrations, former Barcelona star Ronaldinho lauded the Liverpool-born forward.


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“Rooney is a player I like,” he told the Daily Mail. “There is not a national squad in the world he would not improve. Ashley Cole is a fantastic defender also, I have seen him keep the best players in the world quiet.

“There are so many good English players, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Wayne Rooney, all players who, at their peak, would have got into any team in the world.”

Ronaldinho went on to opine that Wednesday night’s friendly will be a special occasion, but insisted that his main aim is to guarantee a place at the next World Cup.

“It is obviously a special occasion, and a game between two big footballing nations," he continued. "But the thing that matters is that I am back in the Brazil squad. I need to show I can play a big part in the next World Cup.”

The two-time World Player of the Year also had his say on England's failure to win a major tournament since their 1966 World Cup victory.

“England have had good players, but maybe they have not been strong enough," he said.

"You look at the Brazil, France and Spain teams who have been successful and I don't think England have ever been at that level in these years,” he said.

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