Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney has been a pundit since his last managerial days and has now given an insight into his surprising medical condition.
Wayne Rooney is a regular guest on Match of the Day (Image: BBC)
Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney has revealed that he is deaf in his left ear and has spoken about the challenges this poses.
He revealed on Match of the Day’s “Behind the Scenes” show that he was unexpectedly hospitalized and that his condition was having an impact on his commentary activities. The 40-year-old was analyzing Saturday’s broadcast of United’s victory over Manchester City.
Rooney has never spoken publicly about his hearing loss, and it is still unclear when and for how long he experienced it.
The former England captain asked a BBC crew backstage at Match of the Day to put an earphone in his right ear instead of his left.
He said, gesturing to his right ear. “Can I do it with this ear? I used to close the talkback. The problem is I can’t hear in my left ear. So when it’s too loud I have a hard time hearing what Kelly Cates (MOTD presenter) or whoever is saying.”
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Rooney signed a lucrative contract worth £800,000 a year with the BBC as a regular pundit on the show and started his own podcast after leaving management. However, he has not ruled out the possibility of returning to the touchline in the future.
Mark Chapman introduced Rooney as “John Rooney’s younger brother” on last night’s show, following Macclesfield’s remarkable achievements with the non-league side who eliminated Crystal Palace in the third round of the FA Cup. The United legend gave further cause for celebration this weekend as he praised United’s 2-0 victory over City on Michael Carrick’s managerial debut.
Rooney praised his match-of-the-day opening goal, saying: “This is the DNA of Manchester United.
Wayne Rooney became a pundit after leaving managerial roles (Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside, Offside via Getty Images)
“He sprinted forward and it was exactly the kind of goal I’ve seen so many times at Manchester United over the years. The ball went to Bruno (Fernandes), it went to (Brian) Mbeumo and it was a great finish.”
Of his former colleague, he continued, “What a start for that guy. There’s been a lot of talk this week about a start he never dreamed of.
“That performance was the best I’ve seen from a Manchester United team for a long time.
“The reason why Manchester United need former players back is because Michael Carrick knows the club well, he knows the culture, he knows the DNA of the football club. And you saw that today. They were really outstanding.”
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