Rooney named top U21 player

Wayne Rooney has been voted the best under-21 player in Europe.

Rooney topped the poll of 30 leading sports journalists conducted by Italian newspaper Tuttosport.

The Manchester United striker came out ahead of team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, with Chelsea’s Arjen Robben in fourth place behind Atletico Madrid’s Fernando Torres.

Inter Milan’s Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins was fifth.

“There were a lot of great players who were also close to winning this trophy so to have come first is a great honour, although a lot of credit must go to my team-mates,” Rooney said.

“Without their support and efforts I would not have been in a position to win.”