Wayne Rooney says he doesn't have Covid-19 after visit from friend who later tested positive
Wayne Rooney has tweeted that he doesn't have Covid-19 after becoming embroiled in a coronavirus drama when he had a visit from a friend - who had been instructed to be tested and was later found to have the virus.
It comes after the Sun newspaper reported that the former England captain - now player-coach at Derby County - was "seething" with his friend, the entrepreneur Josh Bardsley, who visited him at on Thursday to give him a watch.
The paper said Bardsley, 21, had already been contacted by Test and Trace personnel, had taken a test and therefore should have been self-isolating. His test later came back positive.
Rooney, who is married to television personality Coleen and has four children, was unaware of any Covid-related concerns connected with Bardsley, and played in Derby's 1-0 home loss to Watford a day after the visit on Friday evening.
It is now likely that, at the least, the Derby and Watford squads along with their support staff will be forced to take tests. Rooney has already indicated he will take a test.
A statement from Rooney's management said the 34-year-old was "angry and disappointed" by Bardsley's actions.
Derby County Football Club didn't mention Wayne Rooney by name but said they were aware of a report in a national newspaper relating to a player being in contact with an individual which has tested positive for Covid-19.
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