Wayne Rooney Denies Allegations from Andy Carroll's Autobiography

Wayne Rooney has moved to shut down claims made about his behaviour on England duty, instructing lawyers over a passage in Andy Carroll’s forthcoming autobiography.

The former England captain, now 40, has sent a legal letter to the publishers of Carroll’s book, Owning It, after being accused of organising drinking sessions in his hotel room during Three Lions camps around 2010–2011.

Carroll alleges that Rooney, then the talisman of the national side and a Manchester United icon, invited team-mates to his room to drink while on international duty. The allegation has infuriated Rooney, who is demanding the story is pulled before the book hits the shelves.

A source close to Rooney told The Sun that he is “livid” and treating the matter with absolute seriousness. His legal team have issued a strongly worded letter insisting the account is “completely untrue” and must be retracted.

Rooney, who has openly acknowledged past off-field mistakes during his playing days, believes this accusation crosses a line and has made it a point of principle to challenge it. He is prepared to push the issue into court if necessary, leaving Carroll facing the prospect of an expensive legal fight unless he backs down.

The fallout has reportedly left Carroll rattled. According to the same source, the former Newcastle and Liverpool striker “didn’t think for a second Rooney would kick off like this” and now finds himself “in over his head” after including the claims as part of his life story. A public apology is being discussed as one possible way to defuse the row.

The timing could hardly be more explosive. Rooney’s new Disney+ series, The Real Rooneys, created with his wife Coleen, is released on Thursday – the very same day Carroll’s book is due out. Rooney is also in advanced talks to appear on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here, aiming to at least match Coleen’s runner-up finish on last year’s series.

Since retiring from playing in 2018, Rooney has tried to rebuild and reshape his public image. He has stepped into management, joined the BBC’s Match of the Day team, and agreed to front both a podcast and a gameshow. Those close to him say he has lost significant weight, cut out alcohol and left his old habits behind as he attempts to open a fresh chapter in his career.

That is why these fresh allegations sting. Just as Rooney pushes himself back into the spotlight on his own terms, he now finds his name dragged into a book he believes misrepresents who he is today – and, crucially, what he did back then.