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

Rooney Responds to Owen's Bold Claim: "You Can't Compare Us"

The debate that has set footballing tongues wagging has taken a fascinating turn. Michael Owen, the former Liverpool and England striker, ignited a firestorm by suggesting he was the superior talent at the tender age of 17 compared to Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney. Now, Rooney has delivered his verdict, and it's as direct and no-nonsense as his legendary performances on the pitch. Speaking on the latest episode of his BBC podcast, 'The Rooney Podcast', the former Everton prodigy didn't hold back, asserting that any comparison between their youthful exploits is fundamentally flawed.

Owen's Provocative Assertion Sparks Debate

It all began with Owen, a Ballon d'Or winner and one of England's most naturally gifted strikers, making a bold claim about his own early career. He posited that his ability and impact at 17 outshone that of a young Wayne Rooney, who burst onto the scene with Everton just a few years later, announcing his arrival with a stunning strike against Arsenal that instantly made him a household name. Owen's comments, made in a recent interview, suggested a belief in his own exceptional early development, a period where he was already a seasoned professional and a key figure for Liverpool.

The implication from Owen was clear: while Rooney was undoubtedly brilliant, Owen's own precocious talent at the same age was on another level. This sparked immediate discussion among fans and pundits alike. How do you objectively measure the impact and potential of two generational talents at such a young age? It's a question that has no easy answer, but it's one that Rooney, now a seasoned pundit himself, felt compelled to address.

Rooney's Measured, Yet Firm, Rebuttal

Rooney's response on his podcast, however, wasn't a direct counter-claim of superiority. Instead, he focused on the starkly different career paths and experiences that shaped their respective starts in professional football. "I’ve seen Michael’s comments," Rooney stated, as reported by the BBC. "And look, I respect Michael, he was a fantastic player. But you can’t compare us. It’s impossible."

The core of Rooney's argument lies in the context of their early careers. "Michael had already played for Liverpool for a few years by the time he was 17," Rooney explained. "He was already a man, in terms of experience. He'd played in the Premier League, he'd played in Europe. He was established."

This distinction is crucial. While Owen was honing his skills and gaining invaluable experience at a top club from a young age, Rooney was still a schoolboy, facing the daunting prospect of breaking into the Premier League at a time when young players were often given less leeway. Rooney's debut for Everton, at just 16 years and 360 days, was a landmark moment, but it was the start of his journey, not a continuation.

"I Pretended to Be Owen on the Street" - A Nod to Influence

In a poignant moment on the podcast, Rooney even revealed a personal anecdote that underscored Owen's impact on his generation of aspiring footballers. "I pretended to be Michael Owen on the street when I was a kid," Rooney admitted. "We all did. He was the one everyone looked up to, the one who was doing it on the biggest stage at that age." This admission, far from being a sign of inferiority, highlights the immense influence Owen wielded and the aspirational benchmark he set.

It's a testament to Owen's extraordinary talent that he became a role model for future stars like Rooney. However, Rooney masterfully uses this to pivot back to his core argument: the circumstances were vastly different. Owen was the established star, the benchmark. Rooney was the emerging talent, the challenger, facing a different set of pressures and expectations.

Different Paths, Different Metrics

Rooney elaborated on the unique pressures he faced. "When I came through, it was different. I was a young kid, still at school, then I had to go straight into the first team at Everton. The expectations on me were massive from day one." This wasn't the luxury of being eased into a system; it was a baptism by fire. Rooney’s immediate impact, scoring crucial goals and displaying a maturity beyond his years, was a remarkable feat given this context.

The former England captain continued, emphasizing the developmental stages. "Michael had that experience already. When I was 17, I was just starting to find my feet in senior football. I was still raw, still learning. Michael at 17 was already a seasoned professional." The nuances of their careers, the different pressures, and the stages of their development are what make a direct comparison at that specific age so challenging, if not impossible, as Rooney argues.

The Enduring Legacy of Two English Greats

Both Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney are undeniable legends of English football. Owen, with his blistering pace and clinical finishing, conquered Europe with Liverpool and left an indelible mark on international football. Rooney, the all-time leading scorer for England and Manchester United, redefined the role of a forward with his power, vision, and longevity.

The debate over who was "better" at 17 is, in many ways, a fascinating thought experiment. It forces us to consider what constitutes footballing greatness at such a young age. Is it raw talent? Is it immediate impact? Is it the ability to handle immense pressure? Or is it the journey and the subsequent achievements?

Rooney's thoughtful response, grounded in the realities of their respective career trajectories, offers a compelling perspective. He acknowledges Owen's brilliance and the inspiration he provided, but firmly pushes back against a simplistic side-by-side comparison. It's a reminder that while both rose to the very pinnacle of the sport, they did so on distinct paths, shaped by unique circumstances and challenges. And perhaps, in the end, that's the most important takeaway: two extraordinary talents, two different stories, both etched into the annals of English football history.