WAYNE ROONEY has banked a huge £800,000 tax rebate from HMRC.
The former Manchester United forward, 40, is due the windfall after the firm he used for his football image rights was closed.
He has banked £22.5million from the liquidation and is due another payout before the process is completed.
Rooney made £300,000-per-week in wages and image rights earnings during his United career and is now a pundit.
He had big-money deals with Coca-Cola, EA Sports and Nike during his playing days.
And Rooney continues to be an ambassador with a number of global brands.
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He now has an estimated worth of £170m.
Rooney’s work as a pundit saw him become embroiled in a back-and-forth spat with Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk last week.
United’s former striker had criticised Van Dijk and fellow Reds veteran Mo Salah over a lack of leadership during Arne Slot’s dismal October run.
Van Dijk came out swinging last weekend though after helping Liverpool beat Aston Villa.
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And the pair came face-to-face midweek following the Reds’ Champions League win over Real Madrid.
Van Dijk was asked by Amazon host Gabby Logan about criticism from outside parties — without naming Rooney.
It led to an awkward encounter as Van Dijk looked at Wazza while saying: “If you lose five games in a row then it is a fair criticism. But I think it’s over the top at times as well.
“It’s good that ex-players who played at the highest level who dealt with difficult moments as well puts a lot in perspective.”
This saw Rooney reply: “I’m not saying anything more because I think I spurred them on and put them on a winning streak!”
Van Dijk ended the talk by adding: “I think the comment that I signed my new deal and was like, ‘that is it’, and I let it slide, that was a bit… That’s my personal opinion and we move on.”
