Things you love to see: Chicharito x Rooney
Former Manchester United strike partners Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez enjoyed a friendly reunion in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
He enjoyed four full seasons as a United player and then spent a campaign on loan at Real Madrid before he left permanently in 2015, with 157 goals and 59 goals to his name.
Statistics compiled by transfermarkt.co.uk indicate that Chicharito and Rooney played 98 times together at United and combined for 14 goals in the process. He only played more games with Michael Carrick (112) and Patrice Evra (120).
Perhaps the most significant of their contributions together was the goal in our 2011 Champions League semi-final first leg against Schalke in Germany.
Chicha is currently playing for LA Galaxy in the MLS and he was delighted to see his old friend Rooney, who is now the head coach of rival side DC United in Washington.
“It's great to see you again after all this time,” Hernandez wrote on Twitter.
“Thanks for all the memories we shared on and off the field. Wish you nothing but the best! Once a Red always a Red!”
It's great to see you again after all this time. Thanks for all the memories we shared on and off the field. Wish you nothing but the best! @waynerooney #OnceARedAlwaysARed pic.twitter.com/3oVXLjwsKs
— Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez (@CH14_) January 24, 2023
THE UNITED FAMILY
During an appearance on the UTD Podcast in 2021, Chicharito discussed his enduring love for the club.
“Manchester United is always going to be my team. I’m very grateful for Real Madrid, Sevilla, Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham, all of them,” he told us.
“I love them, I still love them and I’m going to be grateful forever but honestly, I feel it that you’re once a Red, always a Red.
Chicharito - "I've learned how to love myself"
podcastUTD Podcast is back with brand new episodes for Series 3 and this week we are joined by Javier Hernandez, who dialled in from Los Angeles. Chicharito told us the amazing story of how he was approached by Manchester United while he was playing in Guadalajara, and how it brought him and his family to tears. He also spoke so passionately about the pride of being a Red and why it takes more than just ability to be able to make it at Old Trafford. The Mexican international then reflected on his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson and what he thinks of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side of today, in an unmissable episode.
“I hope more Mexican players can be in a United shirt, I will love it. But I am the only Mexican who has won the Premier League and then twice and it was the 19th and 20th titles.
“They then helped me to live another opportunity like play for Real Madrid and then go to Germany. Everything was because of those four years in my career.”