Manchester United soccer boss Sir Alex Ferguson said Friday that star player Wayne Rooney was struggling to cope with being in the media spotlight.
Rooney found himself in the headlines for the wrong reasons in recent weeks after revelations over his private life.
The England international scored only one goal for United this season and he was left out of the draw at Everton on Sept. 11, as Ferguson feared the reception he would receive at his former club’s Goodison Park ground.
Ferguson also believes Rooney may be mentally exhausted after coming under such constant scrutiny.
“I don’t believe he has a confidence problem but the boy is starting to realize finally, without any question, what kind of focus is on him as a human being,” Ferguson said in an interview with Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport. “I don’t think the boy can turn a corner at the moment without a camera on him. He can’t move without the paparazzi being on him and, for a young person, that is not what you want.”
He added, “You want to play and enjoy your football without that attention on you, because that can be quite exhausting. He would like to keep playing with freedom, but the siege of the tabloids can wear out anyone.”
