Moyes hints at `best player in the world` Rooney to stay back in Man U

London: New Manchester United boss David Moyes has hinted that he may like to keep striker Wayne Rooney in the club following his description of Rooney as `one of the best players in the world`. Moyes, addressing the subject for the first time since he agreed to take over as manager at Old Trafford, is expected to meet Rooney next week for discussions that may lead to the England international staying at the club.

On the subject of Rooney`s progress during his journey from Everton to United, Moyes said that although he did not watch every United game, he felt that Rooney is one of the best players in the world, adding that he had shown incredible talent as a teenager at Everton. Moyes further termed Rooney as the last street footballer in the world. Rooney has facing an uneasy time at the club after the outgoing manager Sir Alex Ferguson said that the striker had lodged an official transfer request when they met three weeks ago, although Rooney disputed that he was seeking only reassurances regarding his starting place and was also considering his future. Rooney has only two years left remaining on his deal, United would have to decide whether to offer him a new contract or offload him as any fresh proposal is likely to include a reduced salary that Rooney would almost certainly reject. With Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea currently uninterested, and Bayern Munich favourites to sign Borussia Dortmund`s Poland forward Robert Lewandowski, the number of clubs who can afford Rooney and his wage demands appears to be one, Paris Saint-Germain. Given the difficulty in untangling the differing strands before any suitable agreement can be reached, Moyes may have an unwanted saga to deal with as he tries to bed in and get off to the best possible start as Ferguson`s replacement. ANI