When Wayne Rooney was making his first team debut with Everton, he would sneak off after training for a kick-about with his friends at the local park!

In his column for The Sun, Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp paid tribute to the Manchester United star and recalled a conversation he had with Rooney's former Everton manager.

He wrote: " ... his attitude was not given to him by Everton, or by Manchester United, or by England.

"It was created by his love of football. A sheer exuberance that only comes with a genuine affection for the game.

"I remember having a chat with Everton manager David Moyes shortly after Rooney made his debut, five days short of his 17th birthday.

"Moyes told me even though Rooney was a fully fledged member of the first team, he would go off after training and have a kickabout with his pals over the local park.

"This young kid destined for the top never thought twice about sticking down a couple of jumpers to play a few days after his goal ended Arsenal's record-breaking unbeaten run.

"I'm sure if Rooney wasn't playing professionally, he would forever be over some field with his mates having a kickabout instead of quite rightly getting paid for what he does so well."