Cristiano Ronaldo’s return is ‘very exciting’ for Manchester United, says Wayne Rooney (Picture: Getty)

Wayne Rooney says he expects Cristiano Ronaldo to make a huge impression on the likes of Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford after the iconic forward’s ‘very exciting’ return to Manchester United.

Ronaldo informed Juventus of his intention to leave this summer and had looked set to join Manchester City, but the Red Devils beat their bitter rivals to the Portuguese’s signature after an extraordinary turn of events on Friday afternoon.

Club legends Sir Alex Ferguson and Rio Ferdinand both intervened to convince Ronaldo to snub Pep Guardiola’s Premier League champions, with such a move threatening to damage the 36-year-old’s legacy on the red side of Manchester.

The legendary five-time Ballon d’Or winner will finalise his switch to the Old Trafford in due course, subject to personal terms being agreed and the completion of a medical.

Ronaldo is set to become the highest paid player in the English top flight (Picture: Getty)

Rooney, who won eight trophies alongside Ronaldo during their playing days in the north west, said he was confident the veteran attacker would not join City when the initial rumours broke earlier this week.

Speaking to talkSPORT on Saturday, the ex-England captain, now manager of Derby County, backed the Portugal international to have a transformative effect on the younger talent in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad.

‘For the fans it will be great to see Cristiano back, it’s very exciting for everyone at the club,’ Rooney, United’s all-time record goalscorer, said.

‘And for his teammates, too, for some of those young lads in the dressing room, Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford, some of these young lads who have grown up watching him play at Old Trafford.

‘For them it would be a massive help, I’m sure.’

Rooney is confident his former team-mate will be a huge success back at United (Picture: Getty)

Rooney added: ‘He’ll bring his mentality to the club.

‘He’s still one of the best players in the world, so I think it’s a very good signing.’

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It’s understood Ronaldo will become the highest paid player in Premier League football, with the ex-Juve and Real Madrid star set to earn an eye-watering £480,000-a-week.

Ronaldo, who has been offered a two-year contract at the Theatre of Dreams, is hoping to wear the iconic No.7 shirt once again but may first have to wrestle it from Edinson Cavani.