The Manchester United forward is on top form at the moment and his four goals against Hull at the weekend took the total for the 24-year-old to 20 so far this season.

Rooney has taken on the goalscoring mantle of Cristiano Ronaldo, who moved to Real in the summer, and now reports have linked the Englishman with Real as well as Barcelona.Rooney himself insisted last night he is happy at Old Trafford and Valdano is adamant the player is not a target for the La Liga club following the exit of Ruud van Nistelrooy to Hamburg.

Valdano told Radio COPE: “He is extraordinary, very, very good.

“Rooney is English, we all know they find it difficult to adapt to another type of competition other than the Premier League.

“He is a very interesting player but we have not ever been interested.”

Real also appear to be on the brink of securing Racing Santander teenager Sergio Canales.