Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is building up his stable of horses.

The Sun says Rooney splashed out almost £80,000 on three racehorses last year - but the nags have earned him only £5,000 in winnings.

The Manchester United star's horsey hobby was revealed in the accounts of Stoneygate 48 Ltd, the company which handles Rooney's image rights and other commercial deals.

But Rooney and wife Coleen, who jointly own the horses, will not be too worried about the racing results as the firm's figures show the player is sitting on almost £3million in that one company.

Stoneygate 48 Ltd's accounts for the year to March 2012 show net assets of £2,926,352 - up from £1,591,763 the previous year.