ROBSON URGES ROONEY TO JOIN UNITED
Manchester United legend Bryan Robson has urged Wayne Rooney to move to Old Trafford after likening the Everton teenager to his old Red Devils team-mate Norman Whiteside.
Rooney is football´s hottest property following his exploits for England at Euro 2004 and has been linked with both United and moneybags Chelsea.
Everton are desperate to retain the services of the striker and have offered Rooney a big-money deal to pledge his future to The Toffees.
Goodison Park boss David Moyes is optimistic Rooney will stay on Merseyside but they are likely to have to fend off strong interest to hang on to the starlet.
The Red Devils have yet to show their transfer hand but are understood to be keen to take Rooney to Old Trafford.
Former United captain Robson feels the 18-year-old will be ideally suited by a move down the East Lancs Road in the future.
Robson also compared Rooney to his ex-Red Devils team-mate Whiteside in terms of ability but feels the new kid on the block boasts something the Irishman lacked - pace.
" Wayne reminds me as a player and character of Norman Whiteside," Robson told the Manchester Evening News.
" The way he holds the ball up and the way he strikes it, I think the closest player I can recall with that ability was Norman.
" Norman didn´t have Wayne´s pace but Rooney has all Norman´s attributes plus the pace. He´s also mentally very tough like Norman was.
" Norman was 18 when he took the 1982 World Cup by storm and handled the Old Trafford pressure brilliantly.
" Old Trafford was the right place for him and it will be for Wayne."
Meanwhile, Rooney has had the cast which has been protecting his fractured foot removed.
Rooney suffered the injury during England´s Euro 2004 quarter final defeat to Portugal and he is unlikely to be fit for the start of the new domestic season.