Wayne Rooney receives offer from another former Man Utd team-mate after taking Birmingham job

Rooney is confident in his own ability and feels he can help Birmingham secure promotion back to the Premier League. He's already been reunited with John O'Shea, with the duo spending 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 team-mate if needed.

"I have my own journey and I don’t have any plans to go into coaching or management," he told Betfair.

"But I'm always there to help and advise because I love football and I can bring something to the table.

"You never know in football. I'm curious to see how Wazza gets forward in this line of work because America is one thing, now he's back in England and everything's 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 down to management you need to start from the beginning."

Some have questioned Birmingham's decision to appoint Rooney as manager.

Former boss John Eustace had guided the club to sixth in the Championship table prior to his departure.

Rooney remains a gamble, with DC United and Derby County the only teams he's managed since hanging up his boots two years ago.

Yet Berbatov thinks his old friend can succeed - while he also thinks Rooney will be eager to manage United one day.

"Wayne was waiting for an opportunity like the one at Birmingham and he's taken it straight away," the Bulgarian continued.

"He was preparing for something like this whilst he was in America.

"I'm pretty sure he's preparing for the top job because that's the ultimate goal.

"When you have someone like Wayne, you can't think he'll stay at a smaller club all his life and manage them, he's building step by step and I respect that.

"He's climbing the managerial ladder right now and I'm sure at one stage he will go for the Man United job.

"I think he's preparing for the day his phone rings and he's told that Man United are waiting for him.

"I'll be curious as to how he does. I'll be watching.

"It's good to have John O'Shea by your side going into battle because I've been there with both of them and I know the connection they have."

For Rooney to manage United one day, however, he'll need Erik ten Hag to leave his post.

And Berbatov has defended the 53-year-old after Zlatan Ibrahimovic recently criticised him for the way he handles big egos at Old Trafford.

"I heard Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s comments about Ten Hag not being able to handle the egos at the club," he added. "In big teams like Man United, it's impossible not to have big egos.

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"Even as a player, if you don't already have one, once you sign for a club like Man United, you're going to get an ego.

"When you're a manager of a team like Man United, you need to know to handle it.

"Back in the day, I was in a United team with plenty of egos, trust me. But then you had Sir Alex, and he knew how to control it all.

"He built his authority throughout 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 authority. He's shown it before with Cristiano Ronaldo, and now Jadon Sancho."