Wayne Rooney has secured an £800,000 tax rebate after the closure of the company that managed his image rights, marking the latest financial gain in a career long associated with lucrative commercial deals.
The former Manchester United and England captain, now 40, is believed to have already received £22.5million from the liquidation of the firm and is set to receive a further undisclosed amount once the process is finalised.
The company, established during Rooney’s years at the peak of English football, handled earnings tied to marketing arrangements with major global brands, according to The Sun.
During his time at Old Trafford, Rooney was among the Premier League’s highest earners, collecting around £300,000 per week in combined wages and commercial payments.
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His profile, status and widespread marketability also attracted endorsement deals with Coca-Cola, Nike and EA Sports.
Many of those associations continued beyond his retirement, and he has remained a recognisable ambassador for a number of companies with international reach. His overall net worth is now estimated to be near £170m.
Rooney has remained highly visible since retiring from playing, moving into coaching and punditry while offering commentary on the development and performance of former rivals.
Five things to know about Wayne Rooney
|PA
Wayne Rooney was outstanding for Manchester United in his prime | GETTYHis willingness to speak candidly has recently brought him into a public dispute with Liverpool’s captain Virgil van Dijk.
Rooney had questioned the leadership shown by Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah during a difficult spell for Arne Slot’s side in October, remarks that did not go unnoticed on Merseyside.
Following Liverpool’s victory over Aston Villa last weekend, Van Dijk offered a pointed response, insisting that while criticism is part of the profession, some commentary had crossed the line.
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Wayne Rooney laughed off the awkward atmosphere amid his interview with Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk earlier this week
| AMAZONPRIMEThe matter resurfaced when the two came face to face during broadcast duties after Liverpool’s Champions League win over Real Madrid.
Presenter Gabby Logan referred to the presence of criticism from outside figures, without naming Rooney directly, prompting an exchange between the pair.
Van Dijk said: “If you lose five games in a row then it is a fair criticism. But I think it’s over the top at times as well.
“It’s good that ex-players who played at the highest level who dealt with difficult moments as well puts a lot in perspective.”
His words were accompanied by a glance in Rooney’s direction, in a moment that drew attention on social media.
Rooney responded by saying: “I’m not saying anything more because I think I spurred them on and put them on a winning streak.”
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and Wayne Rooney found themselves sharing the same pitch again on Tuesday night in an awkward interview | AMAZONPRIMEVan Dijk later added, referring to previous suggestions that he had grown complacent: “I think the comment that I signed my new deal and was like, ‘that is it’, and I let it slide, that was a bit… That’s my personal opinion and we move on.”
Since then, Rooney has suggested that he went a tad too far. Speaking on his podcast, he said: "Maybe I was a bit unfair because I don't know him that well as a person."
He added: "From a performance point of view, I was speaking about what I felt and what I was seeing, and I felt I was right.
"Van Dijk will judge himself by them [high standards]. When he reflects on his performances this season, he'd be the first to say they haven't been at the standard he's set."