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Dimitar Berbatov has offered to help Wayne Rooney adjust to his new role as Birmingham manager.
The 37-year-old has returned to these shores with the Championship side after opting to leave MLS outfit DC United behind.
Rooney is confident in his ability and feels he can help Birmingham gain promotion back to the Premier League. He has already reunited with John O’Shea, with the two having spent six years playing together.
And Berbatov, who won two league titles while starting alongside Rooney at Manchester United, has now offered to help his old teammate if needed.
Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov won two Premier League titles while playing for Man Utd
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“I have my own journey and have no plans to go into coaching or management,” he told Betfair.
“But I am always there to help and give advice because I love football and I can bring something.
“In football you never know. I’m curious to see how Waza gets on with this job because America is one thing, now he’s back in England and everything has changed.
“Wayne is a big, big name in football.
“He knows that when you stop playing football, your name can get you places, but when it comes to management you have to start from the beginning.”
Some have questioned Birmingham’s decision to appoint Rooney as manager.
Former boss John Eustace had led the club to sixth place in the Championship table before his departure.
Rooney remains a gamble, with DC United and Derby County the only teams he has managed since his retirement two years ago.
Yet Berbatov thinks his old friend can succeed – while he also thinks Rooney would be keen to manage United one day.
The Bulgarian added, “Wayne was waiting for an opportunity like Birmingham and he took it straight away.”
“He was preparing for something similar when he was in America.
“I am sure he is preparing for the top job because that is the ultimate goal.
“When you have someone like Wayne, you can’t think he’s going to stay at a small club all his life and manage them, he’s building step by step and I respect that.
“He’s climbing the managerial ladder now and I’m sure at some point he’ll go for the Man United job.
“I think he’s preparing for the day when his phone rings and he’s told Man United are waiting for him.
“I’d be curious to know how he does it. I’ll keep watching.
“It’s good to have John O’Shea go to war with you because I’ve been there with both of them and I know the bond they have.”
However, Rooney would need Eric ten Hag to leave his post to manage United one day.
And Berbatov has defended the 53-year-old after Zlatan Ibrahimovic criticized him for the way he handled his big ego at Old Trafford recently.
“I heard comments from Zlatan Ibrahimovic about Ten Hague not being able to handle egos at the club,” he said. “In big teams like Man United, it is impossible not to have big egos.
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Wayne Rooney hopes to progress at Birmingham after arriving from MLS side DC United
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“Even as a player, if you don’t have one already, once you sign for a club like Man United, you’ll get an ego.
“When you are the manager of a team like Man United, you have to know how to handle it.
“In the old days, I was in a United team with a lot of ego, believe me. But then you had Sir Alex, and he knew how to control everything.
“He built his authority over the years with his success and his principles of how the club should be led.
“Obviously, Ten Hag doesn’t have 20 years of experience with Man United, he has one. Having said that, I think he has the right. He did it first with Cristiano Ronaldo and now Jadon Sancho Has shown.”
