While the Red Devils have seemed like the slowest team in Europe this past season, one of their players shockingly tops the list of fastest footballers in the world ahead of the likes of Bale, Robben and Ronaldo.
When one thinks of electric pace, the image of Bale zooming past a Barcelona defender to score in the Copa del Rey Final, or Robben providing a huge counter attacking threat in the 2014 World Cup come to mind. But neither of these players are ahead of Ecuadorian winger Antonio Valencia, who has topped the list of world’s fastest footballers.
The Manchester United winger, who is being played out of position by Louis van Gaal, comes in ahead of big names like Bale, Robben, Ronaldo, Messi and Alexis Sanchez according to the list released by FIFA. [via: Eurosport.com]
Here’s the full list of players along with average speed.
10. Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) a 30.1 km/h
9. Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich) a 30.4 km/h
8. Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich) a 30.7 km/h
7. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) a 31.2 km/h
6. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) a 32.5 km/h .
5. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) a 32.7 km/h
4. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) a 33.6 km/h
3. Aaron Lennon (Tottenham, on loan at Everton) a 33.8 km/h
2. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) a 34.7 km/h.
1. Antonio Valencia (Manchester United) a 35.1 km/h
Rooney, Valencia — fastest players in slowest team
Manchester United have not impressed this season with their brand of tedious, slow and back-passing possession football. Yet two of their players make it to the top 10 list, with even the much maligned Wayne Rooney coming in at number 7. This leaves a lot of questions unanswered about what’s going on at the club.
Why is the world’s fastest player being played in defence and not getting first team action? Is Rooney that fast because he’s running around without the ball?
This news will provide little comfort to Manchester United fans who are frustrated with the Red Devils and their performances, which have seen them knocked out of the Champions League and drop below the top 4 spots in the Premier League.