Ryan Giggs:
"The club's responsibility is to ensure Wayne is still fulfilling his potential in 10 years' time, not just one or two. It's something the manager is very good at and he will make sure Wayne is properly looked after.
"The best advice I can offer is for him to carry on enjoying his football, although given he scored a hat-trick on his debut I can't see much of a problem with that just now. Wayne is similar to Paul Scholes in the sense that he just loves playing football, whether it be in front of 67,000 at Old Trafford or just out on the local park.
"At this stage of his career, everything should come naturally. The games can't come quick enough and you just want to get out there and play. You would struggle to find anyone who had a better debut than that, especially when you consider he has been out for three months but he took all the hype and expectation in his stride, which just shows the type of character he is."
Liar23 chips in with his twopenniesworth:
"Everybody knows about the problems I had with the manager but for many, many years he looked after me. He's done the same for many youngsters and is well respected for that.
"Wayne needs looking after and there is no better club for that than Manchester United.
"Rooney has the same bullish look as Gazza when he came through. He runs at players in the same way. He has great control and a great shot with both feet and he scares defenders. He showed that in Euro 2004 and he'll do that in the Premiership and Champions League. To score a hat-trick on his debut is special."
With his current situation on the pitch, and the rumoured discord off it, it is a fair bet that part of Beckham is yearning for a protective Fergie figure just now. Still, he’s made his bed and now he has to lie in it – no matter how uncomfortable it may be.
Rio Ferdinand was also full of praise for Rooney:
"I don't think he knows the word pressure. What can you say about his performance on Tuesday night? It was absolutely unbelievable. Look at what he did in the European Championships. Then he joins Manchester United, with all the hype surrounding his transfer, and scores a hat-trick in his first game. It's just phenomenal.
“He is only a young lad and he has to be given time to keep learning the game. We don't want to go overboard, because he hasn't had time to get his feet wet in footballing terms. There is no doubt he has made it harder for himself by raising the expectation levels in the manner he has.
"But goals give strikers confidence, and he got three - so that should stand him in good stead. The main thing is that he keeps working hard, keeps improving - and then we can all get a lot of pleasure out of his performances over the next few years.''
Thierry Henry was impressed:
"I always said he is an amazing player. He is the kind of player that any team would like to have."
As was Ruud:
"If Wayne keeps on doing the same thing like this then he can break my record. It is great to have him here because he is quality and I honestly hope he can break my records.
“He is 18 and he has such a bright future, and in that sense I wish him all the best and hope he can break every single record there is, to do well for Manchester United. It was a fantastic debut. We are all delighted with his performance.
"If I were to praise one thing it would be his attitude going into this game. He knows all eyes are on him but he goes out and does his own thing. That shows his character. To do that at his young age is fantastic.
"He is fearless. He goes into his debut in the Champions League at Old Trafford and scores a hat trick - you can't say anymore than that. For the first game together I thought our partnership was excellent. I think we linked up together very well.
"It is not for me to judge other partnerships in Europe but today was a great performance of a striker's duo and we take it from here. Hopefully we can get even better."
Six ex-players are all united in their praise for Rooney:
Steve Bruce:
"I don't think any of us have seen that sort of performance from an 18-year-old, it was breathtaking. He is an incredible talent and what amazes me is how he takes it in his stride - like he is going for a kickabout with his mates.
"I am just glad he is English. In the past we have looked at Brazil and Italy and wondered why we didn't have players like that coming through.Now the rest of the world looks at England with pangs of jealousy because we have got Wayne Rooney.
"If you look through the years United have had players like George Best and Bobby Charlton, then in the time I was there David Beckham and Eric Cantona. It is hard to get bigger than Eric was and then Becks but Wayne Rooney has the talent to join them and at his young age who knows how far he can go.
"They love a hero at Old Trafford and they have certainly had a few, haven't they. But he is something special.”
Robbo:
"There is no doubt that Wayne could become one of the United greats. He has such terrific ability and reading of the game. I have to say that his performance on Tuesday was one of the most exciting debuts for United I have seen.
"Nothing seems to faze him and he is very tough. But he will have to control himself and make sure he takes everything in his stride, not let things go to his head.
"I think he can do that. He has outstanding ability and that is the main thing. He is playing with top players and they can help develop him into an even better player."
Norman:
"He'll be under a lot of pressure. I was one of those that thrived on it and he seems to as well. It will be pressure 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
"If you go out for a beer, all of a sudden it's multiplied by 12 by the press. If you're seen walking down the road with a girl you're having an affair. It's just all hype. It's even worse these days than it was when I was playing.
"If anybody's going to keep his feet on the ground, it's Sir Alex. I worked under him and he's the type of manager who won't let him get out of line. Rooney will know Sir Alex's reputation and be frightened to overstep the mark.
"Alex is definitely the right man for him. He'll keep talking to him, calling him in and making sure he's all right. He just knows how to handle players. It won't surprise me if he doesn't play him at the weekend. And he will definitely rest him at stages during the season.”
Andy Ritchie:
"He's an instant cult hero but I think he will handle it. When you see him in the tunnel before big games he looks so relaxed, he's got no nerves."
George Best:
"You look at that performance and you have to say that's as good as anything you've ever seen. I've been saying about him for two years and he's just getting better and better. The lovely thing about him is his temperament - he loves the big stage and the sky is the limit for him, it really is.
"He's got to maintain that level of performance but there's no reason why he shouldn't. He's got everything going for him, he's looking the complete player at 18 years of age.
"He can handle himself, he has two good feet, he's good in the air, he's got it all. Is he as good as me? Now don't be silly! You go through all the greats at Manchester United and you've certainly got to put him in there.
"The fact that he's playing for Manchester United means he's going to get hounded 24 hours a day. But he's got the top man looking after him in Sir Alex and he's been through it before with people like Ryan (Giggs) and Eric Cantona.
"It is something (Rooney) is going to have to learn how to handle and it is not easy. His main objective away from football will be to keep off the front pages."
WIlf McGuiness:
"I found myself laughing out loud because it was like watching a fairy tale. I've worked with some great players in my time and this boy can be up there with the best of them. I think we are going to see a lot more man-marking from now on.
“The thing is, though, that we've already seen that in the past for Everton and England, and it hasn't worked. My first instinct would be to make it as difficult as possible by putting a player on him. But if you go tight on him he doesn't seem to mind. He can lose you with a drop of his shoulder and he's gone. His first two goals were both power shooting and the third showed he can place the ball wherever he wants. So what do you do about that?"