Ronald Atkin: Rooney, Ronny and the hairdryer effect that has nothing to do with Ferguson

As Cristiano Ronaldo prepares to endure a season of jeers, boos and catcalls for his perceived part in the World Cup dismissal of Wayne Rooney, the England man has admitted that not only had he forgiven his Manchester United team-mate the same evening by sending him a text message but that he had tried similar referee-influencing tactics against Ronaldo in that quarter-final against Portugal.

"Ronny said he didn't try to get me sent off and I told him not to worry about it," said Rooney at the Manchester launch of his autobiography. "I warned him he would get a bit of stick from the press over it, and that was it.

"He is a good friend of mine, but we were not team-mates in that game, we were rivals. In the first half I was trying to get him booked for diving. A lot of people probably didn't notice that. In the text I told him to forget about what happened, I wasn't blaming him for interfering. Then I wished him and Portugal good luck in the semis and hoped they got to the final. And I meant it.

"Ronny has been booed in most of his away games for us in the last two seasons, and he has been good enough to handle that. I am sure he can come out of this a better player."

Despite studied attempts to be similarly forgiving towards the referees who have shown him red cards three times in the last 11 months, Rooney feels too many officials "are trying to be stars". He compares his red card to David Beckham's at the 1998 World Cup. "Becks got a lot more stick than I have. If I can react the way he has over the years, I'll become a far better player."

Rooney dismissed suggestions that the spate of reds had undermined his desire and commitment. "My enthusiasm for football is still great, but I was disappointed with the decision in last week's friendly with Porto. I felt it wasn't a sending-off; I genuinely jumped for the ball and never took my eyes off it. You can't slag the referee off too much, he had to make his decision in a split second. But I hope I don't get punished for it."

The more significant dismissal against Portugal lingered. "I felt in some ways I had let the team down. Though the players came in afterwards and told me not to worry about it, you still feel that way. That night and the next couple of days I didn't want to speak to too many people, but I had my family around me and that was good for me, a comfort."

There was also the backing of his club manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. "He is a big help. You know he is going to support you, no matter what happens he is 100 per cent behind you. It's nice to know you have a manager like that. I spoke to him on numerous occasions during the World Cup and he told me, 'Keep your head up, don't worry about it and get yourself ready for us'."

Rooney knows he needs to be ready as Manchester United try to do better than last season's Carling Cup despite the departure of Ruud van Nistelrooy. The book, written with Hunter Davies, has been overtaken by Van Nistelrooy's transfer to Real Madrid, but Rooney is trying to be positive. "It will be difficult to replace Ruud, but hopefully I can chip in and get my goal average up. Hopefully there can be a few more signings before the start of the season. If not, we will have to get on with it, and I think we have a good enough squad."

Having said in his book that the thought of Chelsea winning the Premiership for a third time was "horrible", he called them "a world-class team", adding: "It will be difficult for us but we have to stick together, try to stay injury-free and win our games."

Noting that the two latest red cards and his two serious foot injuries were all suffered against Portuguese opposition, Rooney said the new boots he was wearing at Stamford Bridge on the April day he broke his metatarsal had not been binned. "They are still at the training ground, waiting for me to wear next season."

His book reveals that, in keeping with his nature, described as "a little boisterous" in an early school report, Rooney ignored medical advice as he tried to come back in time for the World Cup. "At the end of the first week I was taking the [air] boot off in the house, which I wasn't supposed to do." A day before having his progress scan, he indulged in a kickabout at United's training ground. "I know I shouldn't have done, but I couldn't help it. Just to touch a ball again."

He narrowly escaped being christened Adrian (in honour of the striker Adrian Heath by his Everton fanatic father, Wayne Snr). He sleeps best with the television and lights on and a vacuum cleaner going full blast. "Failing that, a fan or a hairdryer will do. I've ruined so many hairdryers by letting them burn out." Nicknamed "The Dog" by his Everton team-mates ("perhaps someone said I looked like a bulldog"), he also lets us know he has never voted, bites his nails and, when Sven Goran Eriksson took him on one side in Germany to explain his proposed striking role against Ecuador, the England coach undermined the seriousness of the moment by walking into a plate-glass window.

The next book in the proposed five-volume series on his life will appear, says Rooney, in time for the 2010 World Cup. "And hopefully by then it will include a win-ning season with Man United."

Wayne Rooney: My Story So Far (HarperSport, £17.99)