WAYNE ROONEY has become a cult figure in China, eclipsing David Beckham overnight as the most admired foreign player among the world’s most populous footballing nation. Shops enjoyed a rush on memorabilia celebrating the 18-year-old England player, whose name means “silly nun” in Chinese ideograms. Internet chat rooms overflowed with praise for him and the National Sports Bureau invited him to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. “He is young enough to come to the Games,” Tian Jing, a spokeswoman, said. “Everyone hopes he will.” The Chinese have widely praised Rooney’s aggression on the pitch, contrasting it favourably with Beckham’s more...