Rooney has been speaking to the media and discussing Borussia Dortmund star, Jude Bellingham.
Rooney first saw Bellingham when playing in the Championship with Derby County and was impressed with the then 16-year-old:
“I played against Bellingham when he was at Birmingham and I was at Derby,” Rooney told TalkSport.
“And he actually man-marked me during the game, I think he was about 16, maybe just 17, and what I really liked about him is every time I passed the ball off, he’d leave a stud in on me.
“And I remember thinking, ‘he’s got something about him’, and just to show the character to go out to Germany and take that league by storm.
“That mentality to perform, obviously he’s been captain in quite a few of the games as well, he’s going to be a huge player for England.
Bellingham’s serious talent is already attracting plenty of attention from some top clubs around Europe.
Manchester United tried to sign the youngster before his move to BVB and failed, but Rooney has urged his former side to go back in for Bellingham in the future:
“I hope so! I hope he doesn’t go to Liverpool or [Manchester] City,” Rooney added.
“But I’m sure they’re doing their work, he’s probably the hottest youngster in world football at the minute
“I’m sure United are looking at that as well, I know they tried to get him a couple of years ago, so I’d hope so.
“He’s a player that United could really do with at the minute.”
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