Wayne Rooney shares amusing Pep Guardiola voicemail story
Wayne Rooney had viewers in stitches during the BBC’s FA Cup final coverage when he shared a brilliant anecdote about Pep Guardiola, reports BritPanorama.
The Manchester United legend revealed that a voicemail from the City boss left him absolutely “fuming” during his time managing Derby County. The exchange took place while Rooney pursued a transfer deal with Guardiola’s side.
As a pundit for the BBC, Rooney recounted the story following Manchester City’s 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Wembley, making it a memorable moment during the broadcast.
Rooney explained that he had Patrick Roberts on loan from City at the time and sought to bring in Liam Delap as well during the 2021 season. “So I called him and it went to voicemail. I didn’t get through, then he called back and I missed it,” he said.
What followed was pure Guardiola mischief. “He left a voicemail saying, ‘Hi Wayne, this is Pep, the one who beat you in the Champions League final.’ So I was fuming!” Rooney recalled, highlighting the cheeky dig that caught him off guard.
The playful jab brought back painful memories for Rooney and Manchester United supporters alike. Guardiola’s Barcelona won two Champions League finals against Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, first in 2009, then again in 2011. Although Rooney scored during the latter match, it was Guardiola’s treble-winning squad that triumphed.
Despite the amusing exchange, Rooney never secured Delap’s signature on a loan deal and ultimately stepped down as Derby boss at the end of the 2021/22 season. The young striker has since made a name for himself, completing a £30 million transfer to Chelsea from Ipswich Town last summer.
In a neat twist of fate, Delap featured in today’s final against his former club, though his efforts could not prevent City from securing victory.
As the FA Cup concluded, the light-hearted nature of Rooney’s story served as a reminder of how football can intertwine jest with competition, resonating with fans long after the final whistle has blown.
