Wayne Rooney Offers Romelu Lukaku Advice About Playing for Manchester United

Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has warned Romelu Lukaku he has to be "strong enough mentally" to succeed at Old Trafford, offering the striker advice about playing for the Red Devils following their switch.

Rooney moved back to Goodison Park on a free transfer this month, while Lukaku traded places in a £75 million deal. The Englishman implored United's new frontman to show strong resolve above all else, per the Mirror's Simon Mullock:

"Playing for Manchester United is a test of character, as well as your ability.

"You have got to be strong enough mentally to accept the challenge ­because United is a ­football club that demands success.

"Romelu has to be strong enough to take up that challenge. If he does that, then, with the ability he has got, he will be a success. But if he doesn't face the challenge, if he worries about things, then it will be more difficult for him. Hopefully, Romelu has got people there who will give him the right ­guidance and get the best out of him."

Rooney understands what it means to inherit a legacy at a young age. He was only 18 when he joined the Red Devils, also from Everton, as part of a £26 million deal back in 2004.

The Press Association recently outlined the finer details behind Lukaku's big-money move to Old Trafford and Rooney's return to Everton, with differing levels of pressure applied to both:

Rooney also touched upon the lost group of leaders' voices inside the United dressing room as a factor that works against Lukaku and indeed the rest of manager Jose Mourinho's team.

The former England captain told how the "Class of '92"—now-retired stars such as Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs—had a crucial impact on his development before explaining those kind of figures are no longer present:

"There are standards that you have to keep when you are at Manchester United. That came from then ­manager Sir Alex Ferguson when I went to United, and it was then passed down through the dressing room by the likes of Giggsy, Gary Neville and Scholesy.

"Over the last few years, it was down to me and Michael Carrick to keep the new players maintaining those ­standards. That became more difficult over the last few years, with some of the ­players who joined the club. There are ­traditions at United that have to be maintained. It's become harder, but that's not my problem anymore. I'm just ecstatic to be back at Everton."

But Mourinho may encourage new changing-room voices to emerge amid the new-look squad, with Carrick still present and vice-captain Ander Herrera not one to shy away from such responsibilities.

At 24 years of age, Lukaku holds a six-year advantage over Rooney in terms of his United arrival, and it's worth noting the Belgian already failed to blossom at Chelsea following his first high-profile move in 2011.

The new Red Devils frontman will hope that, coupled with his experiences at Everton and West Bromwich Albion, will put him in good stead to deal with the pressures of life at United and the success he hopes will come with it.