"Gazza was my hero, it's so sad to see what he's going through": Wayne Rooney on his idol

Manchester United and England star has sent an emotional message to the tormented former footballer

Striking show of support: Wayne Rooney

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Wayne Rooney has sent an emotional message of support to his tormented boyhood heroPaul Gascoigne.

As the fallen England star began his latest battle to beat the booze, Wayne said: “It’s a terrible shame about Gazza.

“My best wishes are with him and I hope he can get himself out of this.”

The Manchester United ace said Gazza, 45, was his idol when he was growing up in the Eighties.

“He was a hero of mine and I used to dream of being like him,” said Wayne, who is praying Gazza can overcome his alcohol addiction in rehab in Arizona.

“It’s so sad for everyone to see what’s happening to him.”

Clowning about: Gazza in his Everton days

Julian Hamilton

As we revealed last week, the bloated football legend – hooked on a mix of valium and strong lager – fears he will die if he does not quit boozing.

Ironically, Wayne’s abiding memory of his hero is his wonder goal for England against Scotland at Euro 96 – which was followed by the infamous “dentist’s chair” ­celebration, in which team-mates mimed pouring booze down his throat.

“I am not sure about his celebration afterwards, but it was a great, great goal,” said Wayne, 27.

He first met his idol when he was a youth team player at Everton. Gazza signed for the Merseyside club in 2000 for his final two seasons in the Premier League.

“I got to train with him when I was a kid. It was only a couple of times, when I was 14 or 15,” said Wayne. “I had watched him playing for England for years and to then have him where I was training was great.

Youngster: Wayne. left, with Everton Academy team-mates

“To see the stuff he could do with a ball was brilliant. It was a great ­experience for me.

“I used to go home and tell my mates, ‘I’ve just trained with Paul Gascoigne’.”

Wayne, who scored for England in the 2-1 win over Brazil at Wembley last week, wonders whether Gazza’s life might have been different if he had signed for Man United instead of Tottenham in 1988.

Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson wanted him – and had cracked down on the booze culture at the club.

And many feel that his hardline stance on drinking would have helped ­Gascoigne to become one of the greats.

Wayne said: “You never know what would have happened if Gazza had signed for United. But what I do know is that Alex Ferguson is the best at making sure his players do the right thing.

“I am sure he would have tried to help him the best he could.”

Yesterday Rangers fans broke into a minute’s applause for Gazza in a Glasgow derby against Queen’s Park. They chose the eighth minute, the number he wore in his spell at the club in the Nineties.