Wayne Rooney opens up about his battle with alcohol in the latest Rob Burrow podcast

Former England captain Wayne Rooney has revealed his struggles with alcohol during his early football career in a recent podcast interview with ex-rugby league star Rob Burrow. Rooney, who made his Premier League debut at Everton at the age of 16, admitted that drinking was a means of escape from the pressures of fame. Despite having people to confide in, Rooney chose not to seek help and used alcohol as a coping mechanism. The interview took place on Burrow's podcast, called "Seven: Rob Burrow," where he interviews seven sporting legends and poses seven questions. Burrow, who is a patron of the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association, also utilized AI technology and eye-gaze technology provided by the charity for the podcast series due to his own battle with the disease. Rooney acknowledged that seeking guidance from others is crucial to overcoming challenges and emphasized that he is no longer afraid to speak about his issues. He praised Burrow's resilience and positive energy, citing it as an inspiration. The podcast will feature other notable guests such as Jonny Wilkinson, Dame Kelly Holmes, and Hannah Cockroft. Rooney also discussed his favorite and least favorite teammates and his affinity for Burrow's rugby league team, Leeds Rhinos.