Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney has moved into punditry since his last managerial stint and has now given an insight into a surprise medical condition
Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney has revealed that he is deaf in his left ear and discussed the challenges this presents.
He made the unexpected medical admission on a Match of the Day ‘Behind the Scenes’ programme, where he confessed the condition impacts his punditry work. The 40-year-old was analysing Saturday’s show, which featured coverage of United’s emphatic victory over Manchester City.
Rooney has never before publicly addressed his deafness, and it’s still unknown when or for how long he has experienced this hearing difficulty.
The former England skipper requested that a BBC crew member backstage at Match of the Day fit an earpiece in his right ear rather than his left.
Gesturing to his right ear, he said: “Can I do it in this ear? I used to close the talkback. The problem is I’m deaf in my left ear. So when it’s too loud I struggle to hear what Kelly Cates [MOTD presenter] or whoever is saying.”
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Rooney secured a lucrative deal with the BBC, reportedly worth £800,000 annually, to serve as a regular pundit on the show and started his own podcast after taking a break from management. However, he hasn’t ruled out a return to the touchline in future.
Rooney was brought on during last night’s programme by Mark Chapman as ‘John Rooney’s brother’ after the Macclesfield boss’s remarkable achievement with the non-league side as they eliminated Crystal Palace from the FA Cup third round. The United legend had further cause for celebration this weekend as he assessed United’s dominant 2-0 triumph over City in Michael Carrick‘s debut match in charge.
Applauding the opening goal on Match of the Day, Rooney said: “When we talk about Manchester United’s DNA, this is it.
“Sprinting forward, we’ve seen so many Manchester United goals over the years exactly like this. Ball goes into Bruno [Fernandes], into [Bryan] Mbeumo, and a great finish.”
Regarding his former colleague, he continued: “What a start for that man. There’s been a lot of talk this week a start he couldn’t have dreamed of.
“That performance is the best I’ve seen from a Manchester United team in a long, long time.
“When you ask why Manchester United need ex-players back, it’s because Michael Carrick knows the club, knows the culture, knows the DNA of the football club, and you saw that today. They were absolutely outstanding.”
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