ROONEY IN THE DOCK
Everton star to face the fury of Koeman after drink-driving charge
LONDON
WAYNE Rooney is likely to face a serious reprimand from Everton manager Ronald Koeman after being charged on Friday with drinkdriving.
In a three-hour meeting with Koeman that took place before the former England captain resigned for his boyhood club in the summer, Rooney was warned about his lifestyle and told that there would be no special allowances made.
Koeman said the high standards he demanded of all his Everton players would also apply to the 31-year-old.
Rooney has started well for Everton, scoring twice on his return from Manchester United.
But Koeman, who it is understood used the international break to play golf on Friday, will be less than amused given the potential seriousness of Rooney’s situation.
Rooney was charged by Cheshire police on Friday afternoon after the Everton striker was pulled over in the early hours of the morning while behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Beetle.
Rooney, it’s understood, was more than three times over the legal limit, driving a car belonging to a 29-year-old woman, Laura Simpson.
She said: “I was too drunk to drive and as it was just me and him he offered to drive. I don’t really know where we were planning on going.”
She told The Sun: “We were just driving and then there was just blue flashing lights behind us. Wayne was really worried about it.”
A statement issued by Cheshire police on Friday afternoon confirmed that Rooney was stopped shortly after 2am. Sportsmail understands he had been on a night out with former United teammate Wes Brown and some other friends.
Rooney has since been bailed to appear in court on Sept 18, the day after Everton travel to Old Trafford in the Premier League.
The police statement read: “Cheshire police has charged a man with drink-driving following a vehicle stop in Wilmslow.
“The man was arrested shortly after 2am today, Friday September 1, after officers stopped a black VW Beetle on Altrincham Road, Wilmslow.
“Wayne Rooney, aged 31, of Prestbury, has since been charged with driving whilst over the prescribed limit.
“Rooney has been released on bail and is due to appear at Stockport Magistrates’ Court on 18/9/2017.”
Earlier in the night Rooney was photographed at a bar in Alderley Edge with minor counties cricketer Jack McIver. England’s Drinkwater’s £35m switch to Chelsea, extracting the most value by leaving the deal late, and a softening in the stance on Mahrez is not expected.
Mahrez has begun this season brightly, providing two assists, and is aware that the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham, and Arsenal will only do business if he goes on to produce his form from Leicester’s victorious Premier League campaign.
Mahrez has conducted himself well despite his intentions to change clubs, although his decision record goalscorer clearly making the most of a break in the Premier League and the fact that he was not with England after retiring from international football last week.
His international career concluded with the controversy of his late-night drinking session at the England team hotel in November last year, after a win against Scotland that proved to be his last appearance for the Three Lions.
Rooney publicly apologised only to then express his fury at the criticism he received, branding his treatment ‘a disgrace’.
“What’s been going on is disgraceful,” he said.
“I’m proud to play for my country and I’m proud of my achievements. It's not finished yet. I think what’s been going on is disgraceful. It shows a lack of respect. I think enough is enough.”
Rooney accused the media of trying to bring down the curtain on his England career.
“It feels as if the media are trying to write my obituary and I won’t let that happen,” he said.
“I love playing for my country and I am proud of my achievements to date — but I have not finished yet. That’s all I want to say.”
But he never did play again, Gareth Southgate omitting him from his squad when given the job on a permanent basis. Daily Mail to depart Algeria’s camp to ‘formalise a transfer’ on deadline day left figures at Leicester perplexed, given no bids had been received.
It is understood Mahrez wanted to situate himself in Europe, rather than travel to Zambia, in case an attractive offer arose.
Roma were the only club to make a serious bid for the former PFA Player of the Year, but the Italian club’s £32m approach fell well short of Leicester’s valuation. Daily Mail