WAYNE ROONEY: I AM DEAF IN ONE EAR
Wayne Rooney has revealed that he is deaf in his left ear.
In a behind-the-scenes show about Match of the Day, the former Manchester United forward is seen asking BBC production staff for an earpiece to be placed in his right ear.
Pointing to his right ear, he says: “Can I do it in this? The problem is, I am 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, 40, was a pundit on MOTD on Saturday night after United’s 2-0 win in the Manchester derby. He was introduced by presenter Mark Chapman as “John Rooney’s brother” following the latter’s heroics as manager of Macclesfield in last week’s FA Cup shock over Crystal Palace.
Wayne Rooney reportedly required 45 stitches in his left ear following an accident on a yacht in the French Riviera in 2009.
Discussing United’s win over City under interim coach Michael Carrick, Rooney said: “What a start for that man... 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.”
Rooney has been in the spotlight for his punditry this season and clashed with Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk in November after claiming his performance had declined after signing a new contract at Anfield.
“Van Dijk and [Mohamed] Salah, obviously they’ve signed new deals and whatever, but I don’t think they’ve really led that team this season. I think body language tells you a lot and I think we’re seeing slightly different body language from the two of them,” Rooney said at the time.
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2026-01-18T15:40:40Z