Wayne Rooney: 'Robin van Persie is not the brightest'

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has admitted that teammate Robin van Persie is not the "brightest" player within the squad.

The England international, who has formed a partnership with the prolific forward since he moved from Arsenal to Old Trafford last summer, has suggested that the 29-year-old tends to be the butt of the jokes.

"[Van Persie's] not the brightest!" Rooney said in a Google hangout with DHL. "As much of a good footballer he is, he's definitely not the brightest off the pitch and it's just easy to get to him. There's a few who like to joke around. There's no-one who stays really quiet and out of it."

Van Persie has netted 19 goals in the Premier League so far.