'No problems' between Rooney, Vardy – Hodgson

Nice (France) (AFP) – England manager Roy Hodgson declared on Sunday that there are “no problems” between captain Wayne Rooney and Jamie Vardy following a press report about the strikers’ relationship.

British newspaper The Times has reported that Rooney urged Vardy to ask his wife, Rebekah, to adopt a lower profile, apparently in reference to her newspaper column, television appearances and social media activity.

But when the question was put to Rooney at the press conference prior to England’s Euro 2016 last 16 match with Nice in Iceland on Monday, Hodgson stepped in.

“I’ll answer for Wayne. I haven’t got a clue what you’re referring to,” the England manager said.

“There are absolutely no problems in football terms between Wayne Rooney and Jamie Vardy. In fact, quite the reverse. They’re very close friends, both on the field and off the field.

“I certainly would advise Wayne to give no comment to it. It’s obviously a salacious story that someone’s managed to spin, but it’s of no interest to us.”

Rooney did not respond to the question.