Wayne Rooney has opened up on Match of the Day about his surprise medical condition that leaves him struggling and majorly impacts his punditry
Wayne Rooney has revealed he is deaf in his left ear and opened up on the struggles he faces.
The Manchester United legend made the surprise medical revelation on a Match of the Day ‘Behind the Scenes’ show where he admitted the issue affects his punditry. The 40-year-old was a pundit on Saturday’s show, which included highlights of United’s statement win over Manchester City.
Rooney has never previously spoken publicly about his deafness and it remains unclear when or how long he suffered with his hearing problem.
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The former England captain asked a BBC crew member backstage on Match of the Day to equip an earpiece in his right ear instead of his left.
Pointing 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.”
Rooney signed a lucrative contract with the BBC, believed to be worth £800,000 per year, to be a regular pundit on their flagship football programme and launched his own podcast after stepping back from management. But he is not ruling out returning to the dugout in the future.
Wazza was introduced on last night’s show by Mark Chapman as ‘John Rooney’s brother’ following the Macclesfield manager’s heroics with the non-league club as they knocked Crystal Palace out of the FA Cup third round.
The United icon had more reason to celebrate this weekend as he analysed United’s commanding 2-0 victory over City in Michael Carrick’s first game in charge.
Praising the first 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.”
On his former team-mate, he added: “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.”