Rooney's spokesman has denied the alleged assault

A 22-year-old student has told Greater Manchester Police the England striker assaulted him in the city's Tiger Tiger at about 0100 GMT on Tuesday.

Rooney, 19, who was with a number of team-mates in the club, is alleged to have reacted to comments about his �28m summer move to United from Everton.

Police are to investigate, but a Rooney spokesman has denied the allegations.

"Wayne was approached by a man he had never met in a menacing and threatening manner," the spokesman said.

At this stage it is too early to say if we will need to interview the man involved Greater Manchester Police

"At no stage did Wayne respond. The man was immediately asked to leave the nightclub in the company of security guards."

It is believed Rooney was being taunted over his controversial move from the club he supported as a boy to Manchester United.

It is claimed that the man screamed at the player, calling him "treacherous" and shouted "once a blue, always a blue" - referring to the colour of Everton's shirts.

A police spokesman confirmed a "formal complaint of assault" had been made.

"At this stage it is too early to say if we will need to interview the man involved," he added.

Rooney was with team-mates Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown and Roy Carroll at the time.