Catholic roots: Wayne Rooney trains in Rustenburg, South Africa, yesterday wearing a rosary necklaceFor a player with £35million in the bank, Wayne Rooney's choice of good luck charm seems incongruous to say the least. And not very expensive.
The 24-year-old England striker took to the training field in Rustenburg yesterday sporting a rosary necklace.
To all intents and purposes he looked as if he was about to absolve his team-mates from sin having converted from superstar to the priest he once revealed he would have become without football.
The origin of the crucifix, its purpose and what it's made of are unknown but it certainly catches the eye - and it's not the first time the Manchester United forward has courted controversy with religious imagery.
Four years ago he spearheaded a Nike advert with an England flag painted on his chest, infuriating church leaders and MPs alike with its biblical overtones.
Catholic lad Rooney also had a crucifix tattoo with his wife's name Coleen above it done five years ago and admitted last year he would probably have entered the church if he had not been a good footballer 'because I always enjoyed religious education.'
In a chain gang: The Manchester United forward is flanked by Peter Crouch (left) and Frank Lampard 
I could have been a priest, me: Wayne Rooney shows his Catholic roots, seen right with the tattoo cross on his right armWhether Rooney had an uplifting experience on the road to Rustenburg may remain a mystery forever - or maybe he just borrowed it from former Old Trafford colleague Cristiano Ronaldo.
The oft-diving Portugal and Real Madrid maestro was spotted sporting an ornate but cheap-looking rosary beads crucifix on holiday last year - but showing no signs of repenting for THAT wink, getting Rooney sent off in the World Cup quarter-final in 2006 and making our man cross on a grand scale.
And now he's cross on a grand scale yet again.
Controversial: Rooney in the 2006 Nike ad that infuriated the Church and MPs
Trend setter: Cristiano Ronaldo had custody of the crucifix last year while on holiday in Sardinia before Rooney wrestled it backsource: dailymail
