Ruud van Nistelrooy pays tribute to Manchester United great Denis Law with emotional story
Former Manchester United striker and interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy has paid a touching tribute to Denis Law after he sadly passed away aged 84.
The former Scotland international, who was a club-record signing in 1962, scored 237 goals in 404 appearances for United. He is immortalised with two statues, outside Old Trafford and inside the Stretford End.
Players that have followed him to wear the famous red colours in Manchester have acknowledged the impact he had and Van Nistelrooy was one of them. After joining United in 2001 for £19million - a then-British record transfer fee - Van Nistelrooy scored 95 goals for United before leaving for Real Madrid.
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In 2023, the Dutchman told Gary Neville on The Overlap how he used to be neighbours with Law during his time in England. Law even praised the Leicester City manager in his autobiography 'The King' - claiming he was "immensely impressed" with him.
On Saturday, Van Nistelrooy spoke out publicly for the first time since Law passed away. Following Leicester's 2-0 Premier League defeat to Fulham, the Dutchman spent a few minutes talking about the special Scotsman.
After a string of questions about his side, one journalist asked if he could ask a non-Leicester City related question. Van Nistelrooy smiled and replied: "As long as it's about Denis Law."
"Can you imagine how lucky I was? Being his neighbour," the Dutchman said. "I was lucky enough to have a cup of tea with him in his home, looking out the window into his back yard.
"Time just passed by, talking about life, football, his career, my young career - being 25 or 26.
"It was just lovely. The humble person, a guy with a statue outside of Old Trafford, he was the most humble person you'll ever meet, with the biggest heart. It was absolutely amazing."
Van Nistelrooy continued: "I discussed some personal issues with him, ones that you have to face when you move abroad, playing for United in the public eye. All aspects of being a footballer for United, to be able to get things off your chest and the sense of humour that he reacted with. It was really helpful."
