Man United legend Wayne Rooney opens up on being ‘absolutely battered’ by Sir Alex Ferguson as he reveals the worst ‘hairdryer’ treatment of his career

Wayne Rooney has opened up on the worst ‘hairdryer’ treatment he received from Sir Alex Ferguson during his illustrious Manchester United career.

Rooney, 39, won five Premier League titles during his sensational spell at Old Trafford and is still the club’s all-time record scorer with 253 goals — but even he wasn’t immune to Ferguson’s infamous hairdryer treatment. 

Manchester United’s most decorated manager in history was renowned for losing his temper with players from time to time as he continued to endorse the highest standards in pursuit of silverware. 

In an interview with BBC Sport, Rooney recalled when he and Ferguson came to blows in the dressing room, having clashed at Portsmouth during the 2009-10 campaign.

The match at Fratton Park saw both sides go in level at the break, after Rooney’s opener from the penalty spot was cancelled out by Pompey’s Kevin-Prince Boateng, who also converted his spot-kick from 12 yards seven minutes later.

Displeased with the performance at half-time, Ferguson singled out Rooney to show that he was particularly disappointed in his star striker.

The moment came after Ferguson was furious at Rooney’s performance in the first-half against Portsmouth in 2009, with Kevin-Prince Boateng (above) scoring to make it 1-1 at the break

Ferguson’s hairdryer led to Rooney completing his hat-trick and United winning the game 4-1

According to the ex-England international, Ferguson ‘absolutely battered’ him — and he went on to complete his hat-trick with two more goals as Man United defeated Portsmouth 4-1, with Ryan Giggs also on the scoresheet.

Reflecting on Ferguson’s infamous hairdryer and the incident at Fratton Park, Rooney said: ‘I got it a lot, yeah. When he went of course he was scary and intimidating. 

‘At times deserved, at times not deserved. But I think he knew the right times to do it and he knew the effect it would have. Which normally for me was a positive effect on the pitch.

‘There was a game which always sticks out. It was Portsmouth away, we were winning 1-0.

‘I scored in the first half and he came in and he battered me. He just went at me and I felt it wasn’t deserved. And I went back at him and probably went back a bit too far. It was a bit disrespectful.

‘And he spoke to me after that. And made it clear that I can’t speak to him like that. Then I went out and scored another two. So I scored a hat-trick in the game.’

Revealing how he and the legendary manager ended up burying the hatchet, he added: ‘It was always after the game, it was on the bus. 

‘This is where he was always brilliant. He’d be sat on the bus and he’d walk past you and get a tea or a coffee.

Rooney, pictured with Ferguson and Cristiano Ronaldo (right) in 2007, admitted that the Scottish boss could be ‘scary and intimidating’ at times but was equally ‘brilliant’

The club’s record scorer urged that his iconic former manager was ‘really light-hearted’ as well

‘And he walks back past you, he’d give you a little slap on the head and that was his way of saying it’s forgot about.

‘So you were half waiting for it. I think you would be more worried if it didn’t come.

‘It was necessary as well at times. I think sometimes it gets blown a bit out of proportion. Because he was really light-hearted as well. But when he went of course he was scary and intimidating.