Wayne Rooney's not thick, he's just a softie, says Chelsea midfieder Frank Lampard

By Sportsmail Reporter
Updated: 10:35 EDT, 9 November 2010

No dummy: Wayne Rooney is a 'very sensitive lad'

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard dismissed the perception that England team-mate Wayne Rooney is 'thick' and says the Manchester United striker has a very sensitive side.

Lampard claims Rooney is popular member of the Three Lions squad and would not treat anyone differently if he was talking to David Beckham or a young player coming into the fold for the first time.

Speaking to Radio 5 Live last night, Lampard said: 'Everyone’s the same to Wayne. He has no problem with relating to the older players. Some players might want to align themselves with the top stars or stay in their little groups.

'But he’d talk to David Beckham the same as he’d talk to a new player coming into the squad who plays for Stoke or Bolton. That’s the beauty of him as a person.

'From that early stage, he flitted between everyone and had a sort of mini-friendship with everyone. People who call him thick – it’s just a lazy thing to say. He’s sharp. The people who call him thick have a certain element of thickness about themselves.

'They look at him, the fact he is a footballer and he looks tough because of his upbringing and the way he plays and they make a judgment without trying to find out what he is really like. How can you call someone thick who you have never met?'

He’s a very sensitive lad, who you can have a very good conversation with about anything you want. He’s a very cute, worldly lad for how young he is.'