Wayne Rooney has told police he was blackmailed after pictures of him with three 21-year-old women went viral on social media.
The former Manchester United and England captain, who now manages Championship club Derby County, contacted police over the weekend after several pictures emerged of him with the women at a nightclub and in a hotel room in Manchester.
Rooney, who has four children with his wife Coleen, also appeared to be asleep in some of the pictures while the women posed next to him.
According to MailOnline, Rooney’s representatives have made a complaint of blackmail to Greater Manchester Police. There is no suggestion that the women pictured are involved in the allegations.
Rooney’s spokesperson has also claimed that the investigation has been delayed as it is unclear whether the hotel falls under the jurisdiction of Greater Manchester Police or British Transport Police.
A statement from Greater Manchester Police said: ‘We are not aware that this has been reported to police. There is no police involvement at this time.’
A friend of the women told The Sun: ‘They were flattered. They had a really good night and said Wayne and his friends were lovely.
‘The girls all love to party but I think this was probably the wildest night of their lives.
‘There was no sexual contact – it was just a great night.
‘Wayne was very complimentary of them, of how they looked, but nothing happened.’
Rooney is currently preparing Derby for the new Championship season which begins against Huddersfield on August 7.
But the 35-year-old has warned Derby’s hierarchy that it will be ‘impossible’ for him to field a team as the club have just nine registered senior players on their books.
‘It’s other people, which I can’t control, who need to make bigger decisions. All I can do is try to bring some dignity and pride back to this club. It is clear that has gone in the last few years and it is my job to bring that back,’ Rooney said at the weekend.
‘I need other people to do their job. It’s not ideal, it has been very difficult not knowing what my squad will be in two weeks’ time when the league starts.
However we can, we need to get that sorted.
‘If I am being honest, it would be easy for a manager in my situation to walk away. It’s a challenge for me, I’m a fighter. I am grateful to Derby for giving me this opportunity and I will do everything I can to get the club through this.
‘If we can’t bring players in over the next two weeks I don’t know how we field a team. I haven’t got one centre-back signed to the club, there are two very young players in the U23s and U18s. It would be impossible for me to field a team.’
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