There is obviously a special spirit about Manchester United which makes them a very memorable team to play for. Because, having moved to an, arguably, even bigger club when he transferred to Real Madrid in 2006, Ruud Van Nistelrooy is still clearly enamoured by his time at United.
He tweeted fans, in the lead up to the Manchester United versus Aston Villa game this weekend, to glow with nostalgia about the remarkable FA Cup third round replay 10 years ago in which Manchester United came from 2 down to win 3-2. Van Nistelrooy was man of the match that day and he said:
Van Nistelrooy scored an incredible 46 league goals in just 68 games for Real Madrid in the four injury hit seasons that he was in Spain, but we think that his favourite football memories are those from when he made his name as a world star at Manchester United. Between 2001 and 2006 RvN scored a stupendous 150 goals in just 219 games for the club.
At his best it was a surprise when he didn’t score. He was a truly remarkable player who clearly loved Manchester United. Our favourite goal of his was against Fulham when he ran from the half way line with the ball stuck to his right foot, before hitting an impossibly early shot which flummoxed everyone and ended up in the back of the net.
Let’s see that beauty again. Manchester United fans: your favourite Van Nistelrooy goal?
