FORMER Wigan striker Hugo Rodallega once claimed he often saw Wayne Rooney “drinking like a madman” and Steven Gerrard “dancing on a bar topless” on nights out.
The striker, 36, spent six-and-a-half years in England, with three-and-a-half of those in the North-West at the Latics.
Hugo Rodallega claims he would regularly spot Wayne Rooney “drinking like a madman”Credit: Xposure During his time in the North-West he also allegedly saw Steven Gerrard dancing topless on a night outCredit: Xposure
And he sensationally revealed during an Instagram Live in 2020 that he would regularly spot the Three Lions heroes out enjoying themselves.
Speaking to friend and fellow Colombian footballer Johan Arango, Rodallega said: “If people knew how many times I bumped into Rooney in Manchester drinking like a madman or the number of times I saw Gerrard on a bar dancing shirtless…
“They are human beings, there is nothing wrong with it.
“I can count with one hand the number of footballers who don’t drink. All of them, all of us, go out and drink.
“I have always said it. I enjoy drinking and dancing. I love salsa dancing.
“There is nothing wrong with it. I know we are footballers, but we are human beings too.”
Rooney was regularly spotted on nights out throughout his career, sometimes landing him in a spot of trouble.
Former team-mate Gary Neville once revealed Wazza even managed to get in a scrap despite being man-marked by security guards all night.
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
Gerrard – who preceded fellow Merseysider Rooney as England captain – also liked a beer or two with pals.
But things spilled over in Southport in December 2008 when he was caught up in a bar brawl although the Liverpool legend was cleared of affray.
The pair have both gone into management since hanging up their boots, with Rooney recently quitting his role as boss at Derby County.
Gerrard meanwhile was appointed as Aston Villa gaffer in November after an impressive spell in charge at Rangers.
But Rodallega claimed the pair were quite the party-goers in their playing days.
Rodallega scored 24 goals in 117 Wigan appearances between 2009 and 2012 before moving to Fulham where he grabbed 19 in 84 – in one of his first games for the Cottagers he accidentally gave Rooney a horror gash in his knee after catching him with a flailing boot.
He moved to Turkey in 2015 with a switch to Akhisar Belediyespor which was followed by a spell at Trabzonspor.
The forward then joined Denizlispor before heading back to South America in 2021 to join Brazilian outfit Bahia, where he still plays.
Rodallega scored 24 goals in 117 Wigan appearances and would often see Rooney and Gerrard during his time in the North-WestCredit: AFP
