Wayne Rooney helping to fix Kyle Walker's marriage after becoming 'big brother' to Annie Kilner as Man Utd legend tells AC Milan star's wife 'it's not easy being a footballer in the limelight'

As per Heat World, Kilner is already close friends with Rooney's wife Coleen, but it was Manchester United legend Wayne who stepped up as a confidante on the recent trip. Rooney was in Dubai primarily for coaching on a football camp that Kilner and Walker's son was involved in. Rooney is said to have offered Kilner support and reminded her that being a celebrity footballer is not easy amid her marriage troubles with Walker, having faced infidelity accusations of his own in the past.

A source told Heat World: "Wayne has become like Annie’s big brother. Her boys love him and he’s offered to help in any way he can. Normally, it’s Annie and Coleen hanging out while Kyle and Wayne pair up, but because Kyle wasn’t in Dubai, Annie spent more time chatting to Wayne and he was giving her good advice and support. Obviously, Wayne’s been the one in the wrong in the past, but he explained that it’s not always easy being a footballer in the limelight. He told her Kyle is really missing her and the boys, and is desperate for them to make it work."

Walker and Kilner's marriage has reportedly been on the rocks since it was revealed he had fathered two children with ex-mistress Lauryn Goodman, but divorce proceedings appear to have been put on hold for the time being. Walker moved to AC Milan on loan from Manchester City in January, where Kilner is believed to have been offered her own fly-on-the-wall programme about life in Italy.

Walker is on loan at AC Milan until the end of the 2025-26 season, but his long-term future is unclear. Kilner's interactions with Rooney in Dubai are said to have boosted her confidence in her marriage, with Heat World adding: "Annie has seen Coleen and Wayne hit low points, but hanging out with them as a family in Dubai made her see that it could work out. She knows she can trust the Rooneys, and only Coleen can really understand what she is going through. She is slowly getting her confidence back."