Rooney will face fury of Koeman
BOSS WARNED NEW SIGNING TO BEHAVE
WAyNE rooney is likely to face a serious reprimand from Everton manager ronald Koeman after being charged yesterday with drink-driving.
In a three-hour meeting with Koeman that took place before the former England captain re-signed 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 yesterday, will be less than amused given the potential seriousness of rooney’s situation.
rooney was charged by Cheshire police yesterday afternoon after the Everton striker was pulled over in the early hours of yesterday morning while behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Beetle. rooney,
Sportsmail understands, was more than three times over the legal limit, driving a car belonging to a so-far unidentified woman.
A statement issued by Cheshire police yesterday afternoon confirmed that rooney was stopped shortly after 2am. This newspaper 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 September 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 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.
And while rooney did claim in a statement last week that he retired only after the England manager had said he would pick him for the World Cup qualifiers here in Malta and against Slovakia next week, the announcement did appear slightly staged.
rooney recently revealed that he and wife Coleen are expecting their fourth child. The couple have three sons — Kai, Klay and Kit.
It is thought that Coleen was holidaying with her sons in Spain this week.