With successive Premier League titles and last season's Champions League triumph behind them, United have already flexed considerable muscle in the football world.

They achieved their customary place in the last 16 of this term's competition by picking up a point at Villarreal on Tuesday and next month aim to become the first English team to be crowned FIFA world club champions in Japan.

As the only English side to win the tournament in its previous guise as the Inter-Continental Championship, Sir Alex Ferguson is already keenly looking forward to a repeat success now the competition has been expanded to include continental champions from around the globe.

And Rooney feels lifting the trophy in Yokohama on December 21 would be a further step towards immortality for the present-day United stars.

"I hope we can be regarded as one of the best ever," said the England striker.

"There is definitely a lot of quality here.

"Over the last couple of seasons we have played some tremendous football and the squad itself is quite young.

"If we can keep winning trophies over the next few years I see no reason why we can't be up there."

After questioning Manchester City's right to be regarded as one of England's elite when they have so far achieved little on the back of a huge investment from the Abu Dhabi-based consortium, Rooney feels it would be sweet to fly back from the Far East crowned number one in the world.

He certainly does not feel the FIFA Club World Cup is a waste of time, even if it means United have been forced to postpone their encounter with Wigan on December 20, meaning they will be two games adrift of their major rivals heading into the New Year.

"After the takeover of Manchester City, there has been a lot of talk about whether they are going to be the next big team," said Rooney.

"The aim is to come back as winners and for United fans to say 'we are the best team in the world'. It would be nice for our supporters to be able to give the City fans a bit of stick."