Wayne Rooney, the England football player, will be sued by his former manager over claims that the he was "envious" of the attention lavished on the young star, it emerged today.

David Moyes, the Everton manager, was once considered to be Rooney's protector and mentor, but in My Story So Far, his recently released book, Rooney accused the Scot of being overbearing, controlling and ultimately responsible for driving him away from Goodison Park. Rooney was sold to Manchester United for £27 million in 2004.

Moyes' lawyer confirmed this morning that proceedings will be issued.

"There are a couple [of contentious comments] but I think the main one is 'Moyes forced me out'," Mel Goldberg told BBC Radio Five Live. "No manager wants to lose his best player and that was far from the truth."

Rooney grew up supporting the club and was himself idolised by Everton fans. Mr Goldberg said that Moyes worked hard to keep him at the club and was "upset" by the claims, reprinted in a national newspaper, which included an allegation that Moyes leaked a story about Rooney's visit to a brothel to the Liverpool Echo.

Mr Goldberg said: "David Moyes is a very straight, honest, decent, hardworking man. He is very ethical and to be accused of releasing or breaking confidences upset him a great deal.

"If a manager's reputation has been damaged, he has got to put the record straight."

A spokesperson for Rooney was unavailable.

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