Wayne Rooney’s return to English football as a player-coach at Derby will be subsidised in part by a casino, whose number will be worn on his shirt.
The 33-year-old will join the Rams in January after seeing out the remainder of the 2019 Major League Soccer season with DC United.
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Rooney, the former Manchester United and England striker, will be taking his first steps on the coaching ladder to work under Dutch manager Phillip Cocu – and he said his desire to be with his family was one of the main factors in his decision, having previously intended to see out his career in the United States.
Derby announced Rooney’s signing on Tuesday, and the Championship club were quizzed on how they would finance the move, with the forward earning a reported £90,000-a-week in MLS.
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Owner Mel Morris revealed he had been offered an improved deal by 32Red, the club’s shirt sponsor.
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“The commercial opportunities this creates are widespread and significant,” Morris said, as quoted by The Times. “On the back of Wayne joining the club we have just been offered a record-breaking sponsorship deal with 32Red.”
As Rooney will be taking up a role as a player-coach, rather than a full time squad member, only half of his wages will count towards player expenditure according to EFL’s rules.
And it later emerged Rooney would wear the the no.32 shirt at Pride Park.
“The number I wear isn’t a big deal,” said Rooney. “I’ve worn many numbers through my career — 18, 8, 9, 10, 23 and now 32. The important thing was to come and help the team.”
In recent years, the relationship between betting companies and football clubs has been criticised, with 26 out of the 44 clubs in the Premier League and Championship currently working with each other on shirt deals.