Wayne Rooney 'paid for sex while wife was pregnant'

Published on Sunday 5 September 2010 15:43

WAYNE Rooney is facing claims in a Sunday newspaper that he paid more than £1,000 a time to have sex with a prostitute while his wife was pregnant with their son.

The England and Manchester United star has previously been linked to prostitution, admitting that he visited massage parlours as a teenager.

Rooney recently described his marriage as a "life-changing" experience. He wed childhood sweetheart Coleen in a short ceremony on the Italian Riviera in June 2008.

Publicist Max Clifford said the striker's career will not be affected, and Rooney was expected to travel to Switzerland today for England's Euro qualifier.

Team-mate James Milner said Rooney would continue performing for the national side and Mr Clifford said as long as he kept scoring goals the fans would not care.

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Mr Clifford said: "The only thing Wayne Rooney has to worry about is his wife, whether she, like all the others, is prepared to accept her husband's alleged infidelities.

"Nobody in football gives a monkey's as long as he's winning on the pitch. Man United fans love him. He could be a mass murderer as long as he's scoring goals.

"(England manager Fabio] Capello can't demote him, because that would mean he couldn't play and the team needs him."

Mr Clifford said Rooney's sponsors were also likely to stick with the player, adding: "Will it stop people drinking Tiger Beer? No. Will it stop people buying Coca-Cola? No. Will it stop parents buying Nike for their children? No."

Earlier, a spokesman for electronic game firm EA Sports, one of Rooney's sponsors, said: "This is a personal matter, and we respect Wayne and his family's privacy.

"We have worked together for six years and Wayne continues to represent EA Sports. We will be making no further comment at this time."