Wayne Rooney has advised Jack Grealish not to play for Ireland, despite qualifying under “tenuous” grandparents rule.
Rooney, like Grealish, qualified for Ireland through his grandparents but revealed that he never entertained the idea of representing the Boys In Green.
“I’ve never thought about playing for Ireland. I was born in England, I’m English.”
He recounted a story when former Ireland international Lee Carsley tried to recruit him for the Irish squad at Everton. Rooney explained that playing for Ireland wasn’t something he ever gave much thought about.
“When I was at Everton [in 2001] Lee Carsley asked me about it on behalf of Mick McCarthy but it never crossed my mind. I have Irish grandparents, so if they wanted to play for Ireland I’m sure they could have, but it was never something I thought about.
“I am English through and through and I have no issue with trying to beat Ireland. I am playing for England and I want to help England win.”
Rooney also dismissed the grandparents rule for international qualification as “tenuous”. He reaffirmed his stance that a footballer should play for the country in which they were born, before admitting that it is completely Jack Grealish’s decision.
“It’s down to him really. I’m a firm believer that the country you are born in is who you should play for but the rules are the rules. It’s down to him to make the decision and it is better to make it sooner rather than later.”
Hat-tip to the Guardian
