Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy scarily predicted one of his former teammate’s rise to the top after warning everyone to “watch out for him.”
Ruud van Nistelrooy had an illustrious playing career at Old Trafford after Sir Alex Ferguson snapped him from PSV Eindhoven in 2001.
The 47-year-old Manchester United legend made a sensational impact under Sir Alex Ferguson and is widely considered one of the best strikers of all time.
Van Nistelrooy showcased his ruthless finishing in a United shirt after he found the back of the net 150 times in 219 appearances for the Premier League club.
During his time at Old Trafford, the ex-United striker lifted a Premier League title, an FA Cup and a League Cup under iconic former manager Ferguson.
Despite his remarkable ability in the final third, Van Nistelrooy’s time at the Red Devils came to an end after his relationship with Ferguson fractured.
The Dutchman left United in 2006 and completed a reported £10.2m move to Real Madrid, ending his impressive five-season run at Old Trafford.
Van Nistelrooy enjoyed success at Real Madrid and lifted two La Liga titles with Los Blancos, with the United legend scoring 64 times in 96 appearances for the club.
The former Netherlands striker’s spell at the Spanish side was curtailed by different injuries and Van Nistelrooy left Madrid in 2010.
Van Nistelrooy made a scary prediction
Following his spells with both Manchester United and Real Madrid, Ruud van Nistelrooy saw out the remainder of his legendary career at Hamburg and Malaga.
The former Netherlands international had a brief spell at Hamburg after he signed from Madrid, with Van Nistelrooy making his return to Spain with Malaga in 2011.
Van Nistelrooy, who retired from football in 2012, crossed paths with one “massive talent” during his time at German side Hamburg.
Tottenham star Son Heung-min started his senior playing career at Hamburg after he came through the club’s youth academy.
The 31-year-old South Korea international had a successful period in Germany, with Bayer Leverkusen snapping up Son Heung-min from Hamburg in 2013.
Tottenham signed Son for a fee believed to be £22m in 2015 and the South Korean forward has thrived since he arrived in the Premier League.
Son stuck up a remarkable partnership with former Spurs star Harry Kane, who left Tottenham and signed for Bayern Munich last summer, at the London club.
The former Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen player succeeded Hugo Lloris as captain last summer and has become even more important to Spurs after Harry Kane’s exit.
Van Nistelrooy on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, called Son “class” when he was at Hamburg and tipped him to succeed in football.
“My teammate [Son Heung-min], massive talent! 18 years old. Watch out for him. Class!” Van Nistelrooy tweeted in 2011.
What did Ferguson say about Tottenham ace Son?
Son was with Hamburg during the tail end of Sir Alex Ferguson’s run at United, with the former Red Devils manager calling it time on his legendary career in 2013.
Ferguson spoke highly of the Spurs captain and praised Son as an “excellent” talent long after Van Nistelrooy made his prediction.
The 82-year-old Scotsman even admitted that Son was one of the four players he wished he could have managed in his illustrious coaching career.
“But Kane’s certainly been [excellent] and the boy Son at Tottenham, these [are] excellent players,” he told LADbible TV in 2021.
Ferguson added: “I think the top teams will always produce a player that can stand out and I think those two in particular [Kane and Son].”