Brighton & Hove Albion's Danny Welbeck on best striker he's ever played with, his England ambitions and the Arsenal player that 'got under' his skin
Updated 20/03/2026 at 16:57 GMT
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Danny Welbeck reflected on the best strikers he has played alongside as well as his toughest defensive opposition in a wide-ranging interview with TNT Sports' Kenny Allstar's Number Ones. The Manchester United academy graduate, now 35, also discussed his ambition for the future, having enjoyed a career resurgence since signing for Brighton and Hove Albion in 2020.
'His finishing was a joke' - Welbeck reveals best strikers he has played with
Video credit: TNT Sports
Danny Welbeck revealed the best strikers he has played alongside in a wide-ranging interview with TNT Sports.
Welbeck’s career has spanned three decades, with the 35-year-old having netted for Manchester United on his senior debut back in 2008.
He went on to establish himself in the Old Trafford first team, winning two Premier Leagues, two League Cups and a Club World Cup, before enjoying a five-year spell at Arsenal that yielded two FA Cups.
After a difficult campaign at Watford, Welbeck joined Brighton in 2020, where he has since enjoyed a career resurgence, netting 43 goals to establish himself as the club’s record Premier League scorer.
Reflecting on his career on Kenny Allstar's Number One's, the forward discussed the best attackers he had played alongside, singling out Wayne Rooney as a player that had ”everything”.
”It’s so difficult to pick one,” Welbeck conceded ahead of Brighton's clash with Liverpool, live on TNT Sports and discovery+. ”[Robin] Van Persie - his finishing was a joke and link-up play too. Wazza [Rooney] was everything you would want in a footballer.
”[Dimitar] Berbatov had this incredible touch, [Carlos] Tevez was like a little pitbull, he was here, there, everywhere.
”[Olivier] Giroud at Arsenal didn’t get the credit he deserved, he was very good. Louis Saha when I was coming through at Man Utd and got to watch him up close…it’s impossible to pick just one!
”And those are the just the strikers, you have the wingers too.”
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Video credit: TNT Sports
However, he was more decisive when asked to select the best defender he'd come up against.
”For me, it would probably be Gabriel [Magalhaes],” the Brighton star admitted. ”He is really aggressive, strong, fast and up for the fight. In the last game we played, he really got under my skin, but he is a really top defender.
”[Jan Paul] Van Hecke as well. He is really difficult on the training pitch. It’s nice having him on our side.”
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Welbeck: ‘I control what I can control’
Despite Welbeck seemingly in the final stages of his playing career, his form at Brighton has led to some chatter regarding the prospect of an England call-up for the summer’s World Cup.
Welbeck’s chances of adding to his 42 England caps appear slim after Tuchel omitted him from a March camp that the German deemed as the "last opportunity for players to compete for their ticket" to the World Cup.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
However, Welbeck remained stoic when asked about his football ambition.
”I am still playing in the Premier League at 35 and feel fit and strong,” he said. ”I am loving it, taking the present as it is, and all that other stuff can be worked out.
”I control what I can control and I’m going to push every single day.”
When is Brighton v Liverpool?
Brighton will host Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday, March 21, at the Amex Stadium.
Kick-off is at 12:30 UK time, with live coverage on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate and discovery+ from 11:00.
How to watch Brighton v Liverpool
Brighton v Liverpool will be live on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate and discovery+ with coverage starting at 11:00 UK time on Saturday, March 21.
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