JAY-JAY Okocha believes Manchester United will get their money's worth from Wayne Rooney.

The Wanderers skipper, who knows how it feels to shoulder the responsibility of a massive transfer fee, believes the England starlet has the world at his feet -- provided he can keep his head out of the clouds.

United paid Everton £27 million, a world record for a teenager, when they won the race to sign Rooney in August but Okocha says the fee was not excessive, and reckons Rooney has the maturity, even at the tender age of 18, not to be burdened by it.

"I think he is worth the money," Okocha said. "Considering he is just 18 , he handles the pressure so well. You don't see an 18-year-old guy when he's on the pitch, you see a normal, mature player out there. It's amazing.

"The future is open for him. It's just up to him to keep his head clear and grab it."

Rooney scored a sensational hat-trick on his debut in the 6-2 Champions League thrashing of Fenerbahce and has been showered in tributes ever since.

Okocha, who was in the Fenerbahce team in 1996 when the Turks were the first visitors to win a European tie at Old Trafford, and was later transferred to Paris St Germain for £10m, took no delight in seeing his former club on the receiving end. But he eulogised over Rooney.

"We all know that he's a fantastic player and a great talent," he added. "What a debut and what a comeback from that injury!

"Hopefully, he will keep it up and show that he was worth every penny that has been paid for him."