"Manchester United" captain Wayne Rooney believes that his teammate Chris Smalling is one of the most capable defenders on the planet.
The 25-year-old Englishman cemented his place in the starting lineup of the "Red Devils" under the leadership of Louis van Gaal, but the Dutchman has already mentioned that Smalling will take over the captain's armband from Rooney in the future.
The player who arrived from London's "Fulham" to Manchester is considered to be one of the most improved footballers in the entire "Premier" league over the past few years. This season, he has appeared in all 10 matches.
After the derby against "Man City," Rooney said: "He was fantastic."
"In my opinion, he is among the top three midfield defenders in the world. I think his capability is exactly that," Rooney added.