NFL star JuJu Smith-Schuster has sent a message to Wayne Rooney after recreating his iconic goal celebration for Manchester United in 2015.
The Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver paid tribute to the former United striker after scoring a touchdown against the Denver Broncos, replicating Rooney’s famous boxing celebration from a 3-0 win over Tottenham seven years ago.
Smith-Schuster took to social media after the Chiefs beat the Broncos 34-28 to post his celebration, which has since been viewed over a million times, with the caption: ‘Hitting the @WayneRooney… tag him.’
Rooney, who now lives in the United States and manages Major League Soccer side DC United, replied with a laughing emoji and fist bump emoji, clearly amused at the American’s tribute.
Rooney is a lifelong boxing fan and decided to do his celebration in reference to a video that had emerged in the British press the night before – showing him jokingly sparring with his friend and ex-United defender Phil Bardsley.
‘Growing up, I remember my dad used to give us the gloves in the house,’ Rooney said about the iconic celebration in 2019.
‘It is something I have always loved doing. The night with Bardo, we got home and we put the gloves on. It is something that we do quite regularly – but that one got out!
‘After I went down, the video stops but I wasn’t knocked out. We got up and carried on.
‘I remember when we finished and the two of us sat there. My nose had gone and Bardo had blooding pouring out of his mouth.
‘We were both looking at each other, saying, ‘What are we doing?’ – but Bardo is the same. He has brought up in Manchester the same way I have in Liverpool. We both love boxing.
‘I remember when it was coming out, I remember going in to see [Louis] van Gaal. He was the manager at the time.
‘I said, ‘Listen, this story is coming out about me and Phil Bardsley boxing in the house’ – and he found it hilarious!
‘I think what was perfect was when I scored and the celebration. I didn’t even plan it. When I scored it just came to me.’
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