Ravel Morrison 'a bit upset' by Wayne Rooney wasted Man United potential comments

Talent: Ravel Morrison
Manchester United via Getty Images

Former Manchester United player Ravel Morrison says Wayne Rooney's recent comments about his wasted made his "a bit upset".

Rooney said Morrison was "a country mile" better than academy team-mate Paul Pogba when the two were coming from the ranks.

Gary Neville followed by revealing Sir Alex Ferguson ranked Morrison alongside Ryan Giggs for natural ability. He ended up leaving Old Trafford after just three senior appearances.

"Obviously they're amazing comments," Morrison told talkSPORT. "especially from the player he is; he's probably one of the best ever to come out of England, if not THE best.

"But it makes you a bit upset as well, because I could have gone a bit further, I should have gone a bit further and I'm still hoping to go further.

Manchester United via Getty Imag

"I knew I had ability, but I didn't realise and understand these players' thoughts at the time. If I could sit down and go back through my life they'd be a lot of things I would change.

"It was an every day thing for me when I was young, growing up at United, it was a nice environment to go into everyday with world-class players, it was enjoyable.

"And I know it's poor, but because I was there from the under-9s I would skip training some days. I would wake up and I would just skip it, I don't know why.

"It's hard to get me off the training field now, so if I took my life back to those days I think it would have been a lot better. I did lack in a few things and I've made mistakes.

"There were some things in my life when I was young that I now definitely would not do, I'd have gone down a different path."

Morrison, now 27, has since embarked on a journeyman career which has taken him to Italy, Sweden, Mexico and is now on loan at Middlesbrough from Sheffield United.

"I've definitely not shown my best ability on the pitch yet," he said. "I showed some of what I can do at West Ham and QPR, but other than that I haven't had a run of games for seasons because I moved to Lazio and I found it difficult there with adapting to the culture.

"But going there made me more of a man; I went from a boy to man there, I moved way from my family and friends so I could go there and concentrate.

"I just love the game, I love playing football and I've travelled the world just to play, I've gone to Mexico, I've gone to Italy, wherever I can play football I will play. I just enjoy playing and training every day.

"I do it for my love of the sport but also to provide for my family, to provide for my mum. She's had difficult times in her life, so everything I've got I give to my mum."

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