Wayne Rooney and his former masseuse had a ‘surreal’ experience while playing golf in America.
Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney had an intriguing encounter with Donald Trump while playing at one of his golf courses. Having had a few drinks, Rooney and his masseuse ended up playing several holes with the former US President, who was perhaps overly flattering about the forward’s MLS exploits.
Rooney called time on his Premier League career in 2018, moving to D.C. United and becoming one of MLS’ most recognisable players. At that point the record goalscorer for United and England, Rooney had already been invited by Trump to coach one of his sons at the White House.
The pair were therefore chatty and friendly when they came face-to-face out on course in the States. However, with secret service supposedly surrounding the venue, Rooney told a white lie to avoid correcting Trump during their surreal meeting.
As explained on Under the Cosh by former United and England masseuse Rod Thornley, who became Rooney’s close friend: “Wayne was playing at D.C. United and I went down to see him.
“We had a night out on the Saturday, and on the Sunday we went to play at the Trump National in Washington [D.C.]. We get to the course and there’s secret service everywhere. We get on the first tee and we’re told that the President was playing on that day. There were snipers in the trees, a boat going around the lake with snipers on it.
“[Trump] was ploughing through the course and some people came up to us, told us the President was coming through and not to talk to him. Wayne had actually been coaching Trump’s son on the White House lawn before this. He had already been invited to the White House at Christmas and Thanksgiving.
“Trump comes around the corner shouting, ‘Wayne, how are you!’ Wayne had scored a hat-trick a couple of weeks before, but Trump told everyone that he had scored five. I’m looking at Wazza going, ‘Go on, correct him’. But he didn’t. It was possibly the most surreal day of my life. Me and Wayne were steaming, the pair of us.”
Rooney had called time on his spell in the States by 2019, leaving D.C. United with a respectable haul of 25 goals in 52 matches. He went on to spend one-and-a-half seasons at Derby County before transitioning into management, which eventually landed him the top job back in Washington.
Although the 37-year-old has his hands full in that respect, he still keeps a close eye on matters at Old Trafford, and recently credited manager Erik ten Hag with extracting the best out of Marcus Rashford this season.
“He looks a totally different player and to be in a great place off the pitch as well,” Rooney wrote for The Times earlier this month. “You can see he is enjoying his football and is more positive in his running. He penetrates with his runs off the ball and commits defenders when he’s on the ball — doing everything I wrote about wanting to see from him.”
Source: express.co.uk
