Wayne Rooney has had his say on the greatest ever foreign player to play in the Premier League.
The current Derby County manager was asked for his views on the departure of Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero in his pre-match press conference.
Aguero announced on Monday that he would be leaving City when his contract expires in the summer.
He has spent 10 seasons with the Citizens, becoming their all-time record goalscorer during that time.
The Argentinian will now embark on a new footballing chapter, with Barcelona one of the favourites to sign him.
Rooney called Aguero a Premier League great, and said the English top flight will miss a player of his quality.
However, he concluded that Arsenal legend Thierry Henry is, in his view, the greatest foreign player ever to grace the division.
Rooney said in a press conference ahead of Derby’s game against Luton Town: “Aguero has been fantastic and is certainly right up there.
“But if I was asked to choose then I’d probably say Thierry Henry was the best foreign player.
“There’s a few in a pack just behind who are right up there like Aguero, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Dennis Bergkamp and Eric Cantona.
“He’s [Aguero] certainly one of the Premier League greats, that’s for sure.
Rooney then added: “He’s right up there, he’s a fantastic player. He’s been an outstanding player.
“From my point of view, I’d just like to congratulate him on his career over here.”
Henry and Aguero compared
Henry scored 228 goals in an Arsenal shirt – more than any other Gunners player in the history of the club.
He broke Ian Wright’s record of 185 with a stunning goal in a Champions League tie with Slavia Prague back in 2005.
After leaving the club in 2007 to sign for Barcelona, the Frenchman returned to Arsenal on a one-month loan in 2012. Aptly, he scored the winner against Sunderland in stoppage time in what was his final Premier League game.
Aguero, meanwhile, has scored a total of 257 goals in all competitions for City. His most famous strike came in 2012, when his last-minute winner in a 3-2 victory against QPR secured City their first top division title in 44 years.
He could, of course, improve that tally further from now until the end of the season.
Pep Guardiola’s side are currently battling for trophies on four fronts, with the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and EFL Cup all still attainable this season.
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