Wayne Rooney has been urged to take a step back from football in a bid to save his marriage according to The Sun.
The former Manchester United and England captain was arrested for drink driving earlier this month after been caught driving a girls VW Beetle, a girl who claimed the pair had gotten intimate on a night out.
Despite this not being the first time such allegations have been made against the 31-year-old, his wife Colleen wants the Everton striker to ask for ‘sympathy leave’ to allow them to work on saving their marriage.
A friend of Mrs Rooney told the newspaper:
“Coleen wants them to get away as a family.
“She thinks itโs important to get away from the area and try and spend some time together โ him, her and the kids.
โIn the midst of it all they havenโt been able to do that and, to work through their problems, she feels they need to get away.
โShe has asked him to speak to his manager Ronald Koeman about having some โsympatheticโ leave, but she doesnโt know if heโll get it.
“Thereโs another international break next month, so he might have to wait until then.
โHeโs in the wrong headspace to play and the pressure is showing.
“If Wayne wants to save his marriage, itโs time to put the football in second place.โ
The problem is compounded by the fact that it is a busy time for Everton and Wayne Rooney right now. Their Europa League campaign gets underway on Thursday, before a weekend trip back to Old Trafford to face former employers Manchester United.
Whether Rooney will take a step back is yet to be seen.
I thought he took a step back from football around three or four years ago and has never returned. Work through it and carry on playing like any normal person would do. Football hasn’t ruined his marriage, his idiotic and selfish behaviour has done that!