Former Newcastle United striker Mick Quinn has criticised the bank-busting new deal for Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.
Rooney is on the brink of signing a new £300,000-a-week deal.
Quinn wrote in the Evening Chronicle: "Now there are few bigger fans of Rooney than me. I saw him at 16-year-old at Everton and I couldn't believe someone so young was so good.
"I remember him playing against Portsmouth - he might have been 17 by then - and he was at right midfield that day. His football brain even then was razor sharp.
"But he's not worth that. Nobody is. Even Lionel Messi.
"I think it's mad. I would hope the fans I played in front of could identify with me, even if they knew I was probably making more money than them.
"How can a bloke who works nine-to-five, never mind someone on the dole, identify with a guy who has signed a £75m contract?"
