Leicester City striker and husband of Rebekah Vardy, Jamie Vardy, has cast doubt over Wayne Rooney's testimony at the High Court during the 'Wagatha Christie' libel case.
In a statement issued by Vardy’s representatives outside the hearing, the Foxes player said: “Wayne is talking nonsense.
“He must be confused because he never spoke to me about issues concerning Becky’s media work at Euro 2016.
“There was nothing to speak about, I know this because I discuss everything with Becky.”
Mr Rooney was asked by then England manager Roy Hodgson to speak to fellow England player Mr Vardy to ask his wife to “calm down” during the Euro 2016 tournament, the High Court heard.
England's Wayne Rooney (left) and Jamie Vardy (right) in the dugout during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying match at the Stozice Stadium, Ljubljana.
Mike Egerton
Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy (right) wife of England's Jamie Vardy in the stands during the UEFA Euro 2016, Group B match at the Stade Felix Bollaert-Delelis, Lens.
John Walton
Mr Rooney, giving evidence from the witness box, told the court that he had been asked to speak to Mr Vardy by Mr Hodgson and his then assistant manager Gary Neville.
He said: “They asked me, as captain, would I be able to speak to Mr Vardy on issues regarding his wife and I think we all knew that it was an awkward subject.
“I’d need to speak to Mr Vardy and ask him to speak to his wife and ask him to say to ask his wife to calm down.”
Mr Rooney recalled in court the “awkward” conversation he allegedly had with Mr Vardy about his wife.
Coleen Rooney, wife of Derby County Manager Wayne Rooney, arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice, in London.
HANNAH MCKAY
“I spoke to Jamie 100%,” he said, adding: “I remember the conversation I had with Jamie.
“It was awkward for me to have to speak to a team-mate regarding his wife.”
Mr Rooney said the two footballers had gone into a games room to sit down and speak, with Mr Vardy having a can of red bull and Mr Rooney a coffee.
“It was such an awkward moment for me to have to speak to him,” Mr Rooney said.
Mr Rooney told the court that the period after his wife’s “reveal” post had been “very traumatic” for her and that he had watched her “really struggle”.
“For me and my wife, we don’t want to be in this court,” Mr Rooney said.
“I’ve watched my wife over the last two and a half years really struggle with everything … becoming a different mother, a different wife.
“It’s been been very traumatic for my wife.”
He added: “Hopefully whatever the judgment is in this case, myself, my wife and our children can get on and live our lives because it was not something that we wanted to be part of.”
Mrs Vardy strongly denies leaking stories about Coleen Rooney to journalists.
The trial continues.