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Thursday 24 July 2025 15:45
Nothing will get you more in the mood for Manchester United’s latest appearances in the United States than watching a brilliant new film, presented by INEOS Grenadier.
Manchester United legends Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand take the powerful 4×4 vehicle on a road trip from Manchester in Michigan to Chicago, winding up at Soldier Field, where Ruben Amorim’s Reds will take on Bournemouth next week, in the second of our three matches in the Premier League Summer Series.
In ‘Miles from Manchester’, which can be viewed in full here, there is plenty for the pair to discuss about their careers, in addition to a crazy off-road ride and an impromptu call to one of their former Old Trafford colleagues.
Here are five things we learned but the film really needs to be watched in its entirety to be best appreciated…
EXCHANGING PRESENTS
What really comes across is how the ex-England internationals are still pals, acting like they would have done in the dressing room all those years ago. They share memories of the pre-season tours of the past and hand each other gifts.
Rooney gave Rio an old camcorder, similar to the ones he used to have when filming behind the scenes for MUTV for his ‘Tour Diaries’ series. Describing the present as a throwback, the defender said: “I used to love these.”
Rio, in return, presented our record goalscorer with one of our 2025/26 home shirts, complete with ‘Rooney 10’ on the back. Wazza explained how it was his favourite number and he was delighted to take it from Ruud van Nistelrooy, when the Dutchman departed for Real Madrid in 2006.
ROONEY WAS EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL
Rio explained how he had never seen anything like his new team-mate’s amazing debut for the Reds, when the youngster bagged a hat-trick against Fenerbahce in the Champions League.
Despite having also played with Cristiano Ronaldo as he matured into one of the greatest footballers of all time, the impact made by the teenage Merseysider has never left the classy centre-back.
“No other player made us feel like this,” he said. “I remember looking around at Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ryan Giggs and saying we’ve got a superstar here. You were like an alien. No other player made me feel that. Ronaldo had an immediate impact but it wasn’t what you did.”
GOING OFF-ROAD
The sheer delight shown by both when grabbing hold of the wheel of the Grenadier for a bit of off-road driving contrasted sharply with the absolute terror on the face of the passenger!
“You ain’t well, man!” complained Ferdinand, as Rooney chucked the vehicle around, claiming appreciatively when screeching to a halt: “It was sick that, you know.”
The next challenge was for Rio to climb an incredibly steep and rocky hill but the Grenadier took the task in its stride, supporting the ex-players’ cheeky plea for Sir Jim Ratcliffe to get them one!
THE BAND OF BROTHERS
Rio wanted to call up some of their old colleagues but was disappointed to find Wazza had left the ‘Band of Brothers’ chat group because he’d changed phone. Nonetheless, Anderson was contacted and picked up from Portugal, to get straight into the banter.
While the boys had taken snack breaks for large packets of crisps and inviting-looking cheeseburgers, Rooney could not resist teasing Ando by laughing: “Save some of the chicken for me!”
The Brazilian asked where Nani was and promised to come and visit.
SHOCK MUSIC CHOICE
You could probably never guess what Wazza used to listen to on his headphones, as he prepared to go out to strut his stuff. “Before the games, I used to put Susan Boyle on,” he revealed, referring to the Britain’s Got Talent star. “Wild Horses. I remember sitting next to Anders Lindegaard and he had techno going off, so that song used to calm me and get me going.”
Wayne conceded he “wasn’t shy” when it comes to singing himself and told a story about how the players booed him off stage at one Christmas do, which caused him to lose his head!
There is plenty more to enjoy from the pair throughout the video, none more so than Rooney recounting when he was left in the awkward and embarrassing situation of facing leaving a plane in his shirt and club blazer but with pyjama bottoms on.
Their choice of actors to play themselves in biopics was a contrasting one and Rio’s gentle ribbing of Wayne for going into “Match of the Day” mode when they walk out at Chicago Field, at the end of their journey, is extremely amusing.
Rooney and Ferdinand end with a message for United’s current players, who begin the US leg of Tour 2025, presented by Snapdragon, this weekend against Everton, live on MUTV for non-US residents.
All in all, this has to be an absolute must-watch for all Reds fans – see the film in full here.
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Thursday 24 July 2025 15:45
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