Rio Ferdinand believes Wayne Rooney is already dreaming of taking over as Manchester United manager in the future.
The England legend has agreed a deal which will see him move to Derby in the January transfer window and join the club as a player-coach.
Rooney's move to Derby will see him take his first steps into senior coaching, and Ferdinand believes his close friend is making the move with the ultimate ambition of being a future United manager.
New Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has followed a similar path in his career, leaving Derby at the end of last season to take his dream job at Stamford Bridge.
It remains to be seen whether or not Rooney can emulate the success Lampard enjoyed at Pride Park, but Ferdinand certainly thinks his career dream is obvious.
"His end game is managing Manchester United, 100 per cent. It’s a fact,” Ferdinand told BT Sport.
“If he tells you any different, he’s lying! He will want to do that. Only time will tell if he’s going to be the man to be able to do that. There’s obviously a lot of work to be done before that.
“But Frank [Lampard]’s gone to the place he will have desired more than anywhere else at Chelsea . Can that happen for Wayne? We’ll see. I’m not surprised Wayne has done this because I know that’s the way he wants to go, from speaking to him. It will be a great opportunity.”
