It is nice to be a star adored by millions of fans and to brew millions, that is not always enough to be happy. A true prodigy when he started under the colors of Everton, wayne rooney very quickly became one of the most popular English players and his arrival at Manchester United only reinforced this status. If on the pitch everything was fine for the one who is 36 years old today, outside things were obviously much more complicated.
Married to Coleen McLoughlin since 2008, the father of three boys confided in the Mail on Sunday last Sunday and he returned to this dark period which began when he arrived at the Manchester club. “In my early years at Manchester United, probably until I had my first son Kai (in 2009), I totally isolated myself. I never went out”, he reveals. Very sensitive to the pressure inherent in his superstar status, Wayne Rooney sank into alcoholism. “There were times when we had a few days off and I locked myself in just to drink and erase it all from my mind. Locking myself away made me forget some of the issues I was struggling with. It was drinking”, he summarizes today.
I was constantly angry and aggressive. I had a lot of pain inside of me
A very complicated period for the one who is famous for his escapades and his many infidelities. “I was constantly angry and aggressive. I had a lot of pain inside of me. It took me a while to figure out how to deal with that. It was a very difficult time”, he continues, before explaining what allowed him to move forward: “I understood that I had to sit down and talk to someone. It calmed things down. I spoke with Coleen, her parents and mine”.
An uncompromising testimony for the idol of an entire country, who has since hung up his boots, but remains in the world of football since he coaches an English second division team.