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Robin van Persie may be the sharpest striker in the country - but he’s the slowest when it comes to dressing-room pranks.

Wayne Rooney has revealed how van Persie is the easiest player on whom to play tricks in the Manchester United dressing-room.

Van Persie, who joined United for £24million from Arsenal last summer, has plundered 23 goals in all competitions this season.

He has made fools of defences all season, but Rooney said it was easy to turn the tables on van Persie and catch him out with a wind-up.

Asked to name his easiest target in the United squad, Rooney said: “I’d have to say Robin. He’s not the brightest!

“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.”

(Image: Matthew Peters)

United midfielder Tom Cleverley identified Rooney, along with Rio Ferdinand, Anderson and Danny Welbeck, as United’s biggest pranksters.

“Team jokers?” said Cleverley. “There’s a few characters in our dressing-room.

“Wazza [Rooney] is always taking your phone if you leave it lying about. Rio, Ando, Welbz [Welbeck], they’re all bubbly characters. I just try to lay low and stay out of it.”

United travel to QPR tomorrow, where victory will see then establish a 15-point lead over Manchester City, who don’t play until Sunday.

Nani is in contention for a starting place after his match-winning cameo from the bench in Monday’s 2-1 FA Cup win over Reading.

The Portuguese winger has been marginalised this season, a two-month injury lay-off and contract impasse limiting his appearances.

But United boss Sir Alex Ferguson hailed Nani as one of the best match-winners in Europe and said he wants him to sign a new deal.

“Definitely we want to keep him,” said Ferguson. “He’s one of the best match-winners in the game - and I’m including the whole of Europe.

“He’s capable of scoring the most incredible goals. The boy has got incredible talent for winning matches, no doubt about that. I would like to keep him.”

(Image: Matthew Peters)

“David Gill has been speaking to his agent for quite a few weeks now. It’s up to the boy himself. He’s got a year-and-a-half left and I would prefer to keep him to the end of his contract.

“I think he wants guaranteed first-team football. But he can guarantee that. His performance the other night can guarantee that.

“We’re trying our best [to resolve the new contract issue] because he’s such a match-winning player.”

Rooney, who missed the FA Cup win over Reading, is unlikley to be fit to face QPR, according to Ferguson.

“He came in yesterday for the first time,” said Ferguson. “The medical people are dealing with him. It’s just a bad sinus infection.

“He got it on Saturday morning and since then he’s been on medicines.

“He came in on Wednesday and hopefully he’ll start training today, but I wouldn’t think he’s in contention for Saturday.”

Meanwhile, Real Madrid want David de Gea to be their long-term No1 keeper.