Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini, who was at Old Trafford on Wednesday to witness Wayne Rooney's demolition of AC Milan, says the England striker is the best player in the world.

Singing praises for Manchester City's traditional rival Rooney, he said: "He is the best in the world with Messi."

"He scores loads, works for the team and is intelligent all over the pitch. Rooney is their most important player," Mancini said.

"He is very valuable to the team but it is not only him. The rest of the Manchester United team is also good. Did you see Park? He was always on Andrea Pirlo and did not let him play and then even scored," The Mirror quoted him, as saying.

The Manchester United striker has already revealed that he wants his club to bag a place in history and the chance to ease past Liverpool in the record books.

Rooney, who has scored 30 goals this season, wants his club to win the Premier League for the fourth successive time, a feat that no team has ever achieved. (ANI)