Rio Ferdinand: Wayne Rooney always struck me as a very angry young man, he'd go through phones like sweets at Manchester United

Ferdinand reveals how Rooney used to smash his mobile phone up regularly after arguing off the pitch

Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney (Getty Images)

Rio Ferdinand has revealed the extent of Wayne Rooney’s tantrums off the field as he described his former Manchester United and England team-mate as “a very angry young man” due to his tendency to go through new mobile phones “like they were sweets”.

Ferdinand played alongside Rooney at Old Trafford for 10 years after the striker joined from Everton in 2004, and despite his obvious talent at just 18 years old Rooney’s temper was just as prominent on the pitch.

The 28-year-old now appears to cut a calmer character who has taken on the captains’ armband for both club and country. However, somewhat unsurprisingly, Ferdinand has lifted the lid on what Rooney was like growing up, and claimed that he constantly had arguments on the phone that would lead him to smashing the device in a fit of rage.

The claim comes in his new autobiography ‘#2Sides’, which is currently being serialised by The Sun, and has already revealed the finer details of David Moyes’ failure at United, his involvement in the John Terry racism row and the subsequent clash he had with Sir Alex Ferguson for choosing to snub the Kick It Out T-shirt.

“Wayne Rooney always struck me as a very angry young man, always arguing with people outside the training ground, especially on the phone,” said 35-year-old Ferdinand, now with Queens Park Rangers.

“He seemed to fly into a rage about the smallest things and went through mobile phones like they were sweets. He’d smash phones up in frustration, throwing them on the concrete.

“I don’t know what happened but he did calm down.”

Rooney appears to have calmed down as he has grown up (Getty Images)

Ferdinand made his return to Old Trafford last Sunday, but it was a day to forget for the centre-back as an Angel Di Maria-inspired United tore apart Rangers to record a resounding 4-0 victory – and more crucially their first win of the season.