Beckham: Rooney in good hands at either United

David Beckham believes Wayne Rooney will be in “good hands” whether he joins Manchester United or Newcastle.

The 18-year-old striker handed in a formal transfer request to Everton yesterday and the Magpies and Red Devils are now in a bidding war to sign him before the closure of the transfer window on Tuesday.

Beckham insists his England team-mate could not wish for a choice of two better managers to work for than Alex Ferguson and Bobby Robson.

"You have two great managers who can look after any player, I think when you have two teams as big as Newcastle and Manchester United after you then it’s an honour,” Beckham said.

“They don’t come any better than the two managers who are at those teams, so he’ll be in good hands wherever he goes.

“We think we helped the club win trophies and without Alex Ferguson’s guidance, we wouldn’t have grown up as we have done."

The battle to sign Rooney means he is once again in the headlines, as he has been one way or another since his sensational performances in this summer’s European Championships in Portugal.