Wayne Rooney Takes Legal Action Against Andy Carroll's Claims

Wayne Rooney has instructed lawyers over claims made by former England team-mate Andy Carroll in his forthcoming autobiography, setting up a potential court battle between the two ex-internationals.

The 40-year-old former England captain has sent a legal letter to the publishers of Carroll’s book, Owning It, demanding the removal of a passage which alleges Rooney invited players to drink in his room while on England duty around 2010–2011.

Carroll’s account links the Manchester United great to booze sessions during Three Lions training camps. Rooney, according to those close to him, is furious and insists the story is completely false.

“Wayne is livid. He’s not messing around,” a source told The Sun, explaining that his legal team have fired off a strongly worded letter and are pushing for a full retraction. For Rooney, it is understood to be less about image management and more about what he sees as a clear line being crossed.

“He knows he’s no angel,” the source added, “but this crossed the line. It’s a matter of principle.”

The fallout has reportedly left Carroll rattled. The former Newcastle and Liverpool striker, who is using the book to tell his side of a turbulent career, is now staring at the prospect of an expensive legal fight unless he backs down.

“Andy is spiralling over the whole situation. He didn’t think for a second Rooney would kick off like this,” the insider said. “Andy had a book to sell and now he’s in over his head. There may be a public apology coming unless he wants a legal battle on his hands.”

The timing could hardly be more sensitive for Rooney. The ex-striker, who retired from playing in 2018 before moving into management, has been carefully rebuilding his public profile with a series of high-profile media moves.

He has become a regular on BBC’s Match of the Day and has agreed to front both a podcast and a gameshow, while also holding advanced talks to join ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here, where he is said to be keen to at least match wife Coleen’s runners-up finish on last year’s series.

On top of that, the couple’s new Disney+ documentary series, The Real Rooneys, is released on Thursday – the very same day Carroll’s book hits the shelves, adding another layer of tension to an already combustible situation.

“Everything Wayne has been doing recently is marking a fresh chapter in his career,” the source said. “He’s lost a lot of weight and cut out drinking — his old habits are firmly in the past. Andy accusing him of bad behaviour is the last thing he wants or needs.”

A new media career, a primetime reality show in the works, a glossy streaming documentary – and now a looming legal showdown with a former team-mate. Rooney’s next move will say plenty about how fiercely he intends to guard this new chapter of his life.