Wayne Rooney has shut down suggestions that he's 'uneducated' as he prepares to become a regular on BBC Match of the Day this season.
The 39-year-old is poised to work in punditry having struggled during managerial roles with Birmingham City and Plymouth Argyle over the past couple of years.
Rooney has signed a deal worth £800,000-a-year with the Beeb, with the England icon poised to provide detailed analysis throughout the Premier League season.
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He has admitted in the past that he didn't sit his GCSE's as a youngster due to his footballing commitments.
Wayne Rooney has shut down suggestions that he's 'uneducated' as he prepares to become a regular on BBC Match of the Day this season
|PA
Now, however, he's firmly denied being uneducated - insisting he's made a 'conscious effort' to learn about other things in life.
"It's no secret that I didn't even take GCSEs but I think people assume because of that that I'm not educated, which is really wrong," he said.
"I made a conscious effort when I was at Everton and Manchester United to educate myself in a lot of different things, such as black history and religion.
"The reason I did that was because I wanted to hold conversations with my team-mates who are from different backgrounds.
"That was something I did to help me with my team-mates and help understand how they have been brought up. That's probably something people don't understand about me."
Rooney, as a player, was a force to be reckoned with.
He was known for being aggressive and combative, with the former striker establishing himself as one of the best players of his generation.
When it comes to being a pundit, Rooney has vowed to be 'fair and honest'.
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Wayne Rooney was a force to be reckoned with during his playing days
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He stated: "I think I'm quite fair and honest really - that is the only way to be.
"I say this as a player, a manager, and now as a pundit - it's the same values.
"The fans aren't stupid. If you expect me to sit there and try and sugar-coat things which fans can see, I don't think I should be doing it.
"There are some pundits out there who try and go over the top as well.
"All I can do is try and be fair with what I'm seeing and give my honest opinion. I am sure some players or managers might get annoyed with that but you have to be honest.
"Wayne Rooney the player probably wouldn't like Wayne Rooney the pundit, and I get that.
"We used to think 'why would pundits say that?' but when you finish playing you realise why pundits say things.
"I've been criticised by many pundits as a player and I was never one to phone them up and complain - it actually drove me a bit more to think, 'next time you are speaking, you are saying good things.'
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Wayne Rooney is ready to be brutally honest as he prepares to become a regular on BBC Match of the Day
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Rooney's former club, Manchester United, have toiled in recent years.
He's ready to stick the knife in when needed, however, citing his criticism of Jonny Evans last term in the process.
"I want to see Man Utd do well, of course I do, but I'm very good mates with Jonny Evans and I criticised him last season," he admitted.
"If you're speaking truthfully on what you feel then it makes it very difficult for a player to come to you and question why you're saying things."