Rooney ‘has to learn his lesson on gambling’

REFORMED gambling addict Steve Claridge has advised Wayne Rooney to learn the lessons and move on from his reported £700,000 (€1 million) betting binge.

While the 20-year-old Manchester United star has quickly moved to quash speculation his gambling debts have led to a rift with England strike partner Michael Owen, Claridge feels Rooney should not ignore some valuable warning signs.

Claridge laid bare his extraordinary gambling tales in his autobiography Tales from the Boot Camp.

And, while the veteran Walsall striker does not believe Rooney’s problem has spiralled out of control, he has some advice for the youngster.

“He has to learn his lesson,” Claridge told BBC Sport.

“I hope this has hurt him because if it has, then he will stop.

“People are saying he is an addict but that isn’t the case. To a normal man, the scale of that gambling debt is huge but £700,000 could just be a bit of fun to Wayne Rooney. It is all relative and that sum is just under a third of what he earns in a year.

“However, I don’t care who he is or what he does. In 20 years’ time, if he is still betting like that, he won’t have a penny to his name.”

United boss Alex Ferguson has hit out at the lurid headlines that surrounded Rooney at the weekend and the player himself has rejected rumours of a dispute with Owen. Rooney is alleged to owe the money to Owen’s business partner, Stephen Smith.

“Any suggestion of a rift or a dispute between Wayne and Michael are completely without foundation as far as Wayne is concerned,” said a spokesman for Rooney and his management company.

“Wayne and Michael remain the best of pals.”

The statement will no doubt help ease the fears of England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, who needs a row between two of his main stars like a hole in the head so close to a World Cup campaign.

Rooney showed no ill effects from the betting trauma yesterday, when he turned in a man of the match performance in United’s 2-0 win over Arsenal.

“Look at my performance and answer that yourself,” was Rooney’s reply when asked whether publication of his supposed gambling problem had played on his mind prior to the Gunners clash.

While his advisors, Eriksson and the Professional Footballers’ Association attempt to establish the precise truth of the situation, Rooney wants to start letting his feet do the talking again.

The wonderful goal which set United on the road to their ninth successive Premiership win yesterday was a reminder of his sublime talent.

And, even though the Red Devils remain seven points adrift of Chelsea with just five games left, Rooney has not totally given up hope his first full season at Old Trafford could end up with him being crowned a Premiership champion.

“We had a few dodgy results at the beginning of the season but we have just stuck together and pulled ourselves through. We are starting to play some great football now. We are looking forward to matches and we just want to win our games.

“If the situation with Chelsea changes we would be delighted but all we can do is keep pushing on and try to win our last five games.”