After Wayne Rooney became Manchester United’s top goal scorer ever yesterday, the punditocracy erupted into an orgy of praise and adulation.
Which is to be expected, as it’s an incredible feat, no matter how choppy the United skipper’s form has been of late.
The manner in which he broke it, whipping a free kick in from a tight angle and reminding everyone of the brilliance of which he was once routinely capable, only served to intensify the Rooney love-in.
But there’s always one who takes it a step too far, isn’t there?
Step forward Alan Shearer.
The Newcastle legend seemed to be a bit wound-up when, Ruud Gullit, had the temerity to suggest that Rooney was not seen as one of the true greats on the continent as he’d never really done it at an international tournament.
"He would play for £50." #MOTD pic.twitter.com/N3wPX9YUHf
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 21, 2017
Cue slight overreaction from Shearer as he doubled down on the Rooney love saying:
“People talk about the finances in the game now-a-days, Wayne Rooney is a guy that would play for 50 quid a week”.
Which is a theory that makes perfect sense. If you airbrush the most notorious period of Rooney’s career out of history.
As many Match of the Day viewers were very quick to point out on Twitter.
@BBCMOTD yeah, that's why he's tried to leave the club. Twice. Sure money wasn't a factor in that.
— Joey (@AntonioContbae) January 21, 2017
@BBCMOTD apart from that time he went on strike for 200k and threatened to go to chelsea
— kieran (@KieranFitchett_) January 21, 2017
@BBCMOTD what a load of bollocks, he was going to leave Man U at one point unless he got 250k pw!
— Tim Stoner (@stonertim) January 21, 2017
@BBCMOTD pic.twitter.com/zYjLqy8ba7
— SJ (@sarahjayneeee_) January 21, 2017
@BBCMOTD That has got to be the stupidess and cringy thing every said on MOTD
— patrick woolcock (@hammerpat2020) January 21, 2017
@BBCMOTD pic.twitter.com/gFTtNMWzlR
— Oninja (@OrigamiNinja79) January 21, 2017
@BBCMOTD most ludicrous comment I've ever heard. The man throw a transfer request in so he would get 250k a week….
— -Danny (@Firtinho_) January 21, 2017
@BBCMOTD B*LL*CKS. Two transfer requests > new contracts w./pay rises? English media revisionism on 'their mate' Wayne Rooney is pathetic.
— Matthew Stewart (@MStewart0013) January 21, 2017
But this one seemed to sum up the general reaction best.
@BBCMOTD ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
— Leigh Bill (@LMcCloskey10) January 21, 2017