Wayne Rooney Reignites Feud with Virgil van Dijk in Latest Podcast Comments
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has launched a fresh verbal assault on Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, defending his critical punditry and suggesting the defender's performances have contributed significantly to Liverpool's disappointing campaign this season. The ongoing spat between the two football icons shows no signs of abating, with Rooney using a recent podcast appearance to double down on his previous remarks.
The Background of the Bitter Exchange
The feud between Rooney and Van Dijk first erupted publicly in November following Liverpool's Champions League victory over Real Madrid. During a tense Prime Video broadcast, Van Dijk dismissed Rooney's criticism as "over the top," while the former England striker stood firm in his assessment. Since then, the Liverpool captain has expressed concerns about pundits' responsibilities toward younger players' mental health in the social media era, comments that were specifically directed at fellow pundit Gary Neville on Sky Sports.
When these remarks were presented to Rooney during his appearance on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast with Sam Allardyce, he responded with characteristic defiance. "I've been pulled up a few times because I like to speak about what I see," Rooney stated. "If a player is doing well or not doing well, you give your opinion, that's the job. I think Virgil and other top players need to remember that we were once players too. This is not something new."
Rooney's Defense of Punditry and Personal Experience
The former Manchester United striker drew upon his own extensive experience with media scrutiny to justify his approach. "Virgil van Dijk will know himself if he's had a good game or a bad game," Rooney argued. "No one's having personal attacks on players, it's an opinion, what you see. I've been through that probably a lot more than Virgil van Dijk has been through it. That's part of football."
Rooney further emphasized that modern players benefit from commercial opportunities and substantial earnings, which he believes should come with an acceptance of critical analysis. "Players now get the benefit of all the commercial things they do and they earn a lot of money from doing that," he noted. "They need to understand that pundits have opinions. Sometimes, pundits can go over the top. But as a player, you're judged on performances."
Direct Criticism of Van Dijk's Current Form
In perhaps his most pointed comments, Rooney directly addressed Van Dijk's performances this season, acknowledging a strong showing in the defeat to Manchester City but highlighting broader concerns. "But for many games this season, he hasn't been at his level," Rooney asserted. "Whether that's because he's getting a little bit older, he's played a lot of games. He's been one of the best centre-backs in the world in recent seasons but he hasn't had the best of seasons, which is shown by Liverpool's position in the table."
Context of Liverpool's Struggling Campaign
Rooney's criticism comes against the backdrop of Liverpool's underwhelming title defense, which has seen Arne Slot's side languishing in sixth position despite a summer spending spree approaching £500 million. The Reds now face the genuine possibility of missing out on Champions League qualification, adding weight to Rooney's assertions about defensive vulnerabilities.
The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between active players and former professionals turned pundits, particularly regarding the boundaries of constructive criticism versus personal attacks. As Rooney concluded, "This happens and I'm sure he'll realise that when he stops playing," suggesting this debate will continue long after both have retired from the pitch.
