A 22-year-old student has withdrawn claims that England footballer Wayne Rooney assaulted him in a nightclub brawl, police said today.

Police launched an investigation into allegations that the Manchester United striker assaulted Patrick Hanrahan in the early hours of March 22 after the student taunted him in Manchester's Tiger Tiger nightclub.

Mr Hanrahan made a formal complaint against the £28 million player after telling his story in The Sun 16 hours after the alleged incident.

But Greater Manchester Police said today that the 22-year-old had withdrawn his allegation and they would not be pursuing the matter.

A force spokeswoman said: ''We were informed that the complainant did not want to pursue the allegation.

''We took a distraction statement from him and officers will not be pursuing the matter any further.''