Park Ji-sung believes it was only a matter of time before Wayne Rooney blossomed into a world-class talent.

Having been with Manchester United since 2005, Park has seen at close quarters the startling progress Rooney has made.

Following Cristiano Ronaldo's world-record exit for Real Madrid last summer, Rooney has moved into another gear entirely.

He now stands just 10 goals adrift of Ronaldo's staggering haul of 42 two seasons ago and still has up to 13 matches left to reach it.

And Park, speaking at the announcement of a major sponsorship deal between United and Turkish Airlines, is not about to argue with anyone who puts Rooney right in the top bracket of players.

"People regard him as one of the best players in the world and that is absolutely right," said the South Korean star.

"He has scored so many goals this season it is incredible.

"But everyone always knew he had the talent and ability to do it, so it is not a surprise.

"He was young before. He just needed experience. This season he has grown up."

The pair will get the chance to discuss Rooney's form aboard a Turkish Airlines jet later this season, given the carrier will fly United to their Champions League matches as part of the lucrative deal, which is yet another sign of the Red Devils' pulling power.

Having announced an agreement with Malaysia Telekom last week, clearly United remain a commercial force - which flies in the face of accusations from those behind the hugely successful green-and-gold campaign that they are badly run.

And while the Glazer family will continue to attract hefty criticism for the debt mountain they built in order to complete their controversial takeover in 2005, chief executive David Gill is staunch in his defence of them.

"People presuppose we have financial problems," he said.

"We do not believe that is the correct situation.

"We are very comfortable and we have a sensible business strategy that will continue for many years to come."

It has been argued by Keith Harris, part of the Red Knights group who aim to wrest control from the Glazer family, that player sales will become inevitable as the interest on payment-in-kind notes taken out by the Glazer family begins to bite.

Yet Gill insists the Glazers are totally aware that United can only carry on being attractive commercial partners if Sir Alex Ferguson is allowed the finances to maintain a successful team.

"We fully understands what happens on the pitch has a real effect on what happens off it," he said.

"Over the years, since the Premier League came into existence in 1992, we have had sustained success under Sir Alex Ferguson with the great players he has coached and managed.

"It has produced significant financial returns that have been reinvested back into the team; the ground, the training ground and also the players - both in terms of new ones and new contracts for existing ones."