Of all the sparkling talents on Planet Football, from Kaka to Ronaldinho, David Villa to Cristiano Ronaldo, there is no one that Steven Gerrard would like to see joining him at Liverpool more than Wayne Rooney, soul-mates becoming club-mates.
Raised on similar Merseyside estates, and sharing a footballing philosophy of hard work spiced with the spectacular, the two are good friends. It was little surprise yesterday to hear Gerrard passionately supporting Rooney, who has been criticised for failing to score a competitive goal at international level since Euro 2004 in
"For England there have been problems, but if you look at him with Manchester United he's on fire, which I don't like to see,'' remarked Gerrard, who will provide England's midfield drive at the Olympic Stadium in Montjuic.
"He's playing some of the best football of his career for United. He's just a goal away from turning it around at international level. A goal would do
Rooney remains upbeat, Gerrard insisted. "He's all right at the moment, he's the same as usual. He's working really hard in training. He knows himself that he needs a goal at international level. It's my responsibility and other players' that we create the chances for