England legend Wayne Rooney preparing for retirement as farmer

DC UNITED star Wayne Rooney is already eyeing up life after football... by becoming a farmer.

The Manchester United legend has applied to build a shed on his £20million Cheshire mansion so he can store a tractor and hay bales.

Rooney's desire for purpose-built hay storage implies he could look to bring farmyard animals to the land.

According to the Daily Star, 33-year-old has employed property development company Brighouse Homes to ask Cheshire East Council for permission to execute his plans.

It is claimed that England's all-time record scorer wants to build a 20ft-tall shed - with blueprints showing the structure would be built seven feet deeper than the surrounding land.

The steel-framed design would then not be seen by those who live nearby, leaving Rooney in the clear of having to deal with angry neighbours.

The application statement declared the shed would be used for farming storage, as well as machinery.

It read: "The proposed building is to provide shelter and security to machinery and equipment related to the upkeep of the agricultural land.

"It will also provide dry storage for hay.

"The proposed building will be used for storage of farm maintenance such as a tractor and also as a hay store when required."

Rooney - who starred in his debut season in the MLS with DC United - is tied down at the club until 2021.