ROONEY APOLOGISES OVER PARTY PICS BUT CLAIMS HE WAS “SET UP”

Wayne Rooney has apologised publicly to his wife Coleen, his family, and Derby County Football Club after leaked images of him in a Manchester hotel room with party girls went viral, calling the incident a “mistake” but insisting he was also the victim of a set-up.

A Painful Admission

Speaking after Derby’s 1-0 friendly win against Spanish side Real Betis, Rooney, 35, addressed the controversy for the first time on camera. “I made a mistake,” he told Sky Sports. “I went to a private party with two of my friends. From me, I would like to apologise to my family and the club for the images which were going round. I want to move forward on this.”

The apology, delivered in Rooney’s characteristically blunt style, came just days after the photographs spread across social media, showing the former England captain asleep in a chair while three young women posed around him in lingerie. One image, captioned “Mooney Rooney,” showed a woman flashing her bottom close to the retired striker’s face.

Claiming Victimhood

When pressed by reporters on whether he felt he had been exploited, Rooney said quietly: “Yes, but I don’t really want to go into that. Listen, it’s dealt with and I’m looking forward to moving forward and preparing for another game on Sunday.”

Rooney’s suggestion that he had been the victim of a “stitch-up” echoed comments from sources close to his wife Coleen, who, according to insiders, “entirely backed his version of events.”

Coleen’s Response

Coleen Rooney, who has been married to Wayne since 2008 and shares four sons with him, has once again stood by her husband in the wake of the scandal. A family friend told the press: “Coleen is fully behind him. She feels he’s been the victim of a stitch-up. She has spoken to him and is entirely backing his version of events. They are rock solid.”

Coleen was later photographed enjoying a day at the beach with her children, in what many interpreted as a show of solidarity amid the storm of headlines.

A Tactical Distraction

On Wednesday evening, just hours after securing the rights to the party pictures himself for £1 — effectively preventing further circulation — Rooney was back on the sidelines at Pride Park as Derby County faced Real Betis in pre-season.

Photographs from the match showed Rooney with his arms folded, staring at the ground, looking pained and contemplative. Yet his side emerged with a morale-boosting victory, thanks to a late strike from midfielder Max Bird.

For Rooney, balancing his role as Derby manager with the intense scrutiny of his personal life has become a familiar challenge. His apology was as much a message to his players and staff as to the public — an insistence that he intends to remain focused on the football.

A History of Scrutiny

This is not the first time Rooney’s off-field behaviour has made headlines. Throughout his glittering playing career, which saw him become Manchester United’s record goalscorer and earn 120 caps for England, his private life has often been under the microscope.

Despite repeated controversies, his marriage has endured, with Coleen frequently choosing to stand by him. This latest scandal, however, has reignited debate among fans and pundits over whether Rooney, now a manager and role model for young players, can continue to allow himself to be caught in compromising situations.

Buying Back His Privacy

Reports confirmed that Rooney purchased the rights to the leaked party photographs for £1 in a move to stop them being published or resold. While the gesture symbolised his anger at being humiliated, it also underscored his desire to take back control of his public image.

Observers noted the irony of one of England’s most famous footballers — once commanding millions in wages and sponsorship deals — resorting to paying a token sum for his own privacy.

Support at Derby

Derby County, already battling severe financial issues and struggling to strengthen their squad, has so far stood by their manager. Club sources described Rooney’s apology as “the right thing to do” and suggested the focus would now return to preparations for the Championship season.

Rooney himself acknowledged his debt of gratitude. “I’m grateful to Derby County for giving me this opportunity to get this club back to where it belongs. I will do everything in my power to do that,” he told Sky Sports.

The Road Ahead

Whether the apology and Coleen’s support will be enough to draw a line under the affair remains uncertain. Public reaction has been mixed, with some fans criticising Rooney’s judgment and others sympathising with his claim of being exploited.

What is clear is that the incident has once again reminded Rooney of the constant scrutiny that comes with fame. As he stood on the Pride Park sidelines, eyes fixed firmly on the ground, the weight of his dual life — as a football manager and as a man repeatedly tested by personal scandal — seemed heavier than ever.