Former England striker Wayne Rooney spent $150,000 on a night out with rapper Diddy at David Beckham's charity auction in 2006.
A video of an auction featuring Diddy, Rooney and Becks nearly 10 years ago was dug up amid a scandal involving the "rap mogul" that shocked the world.
The auction took place in May 2006, before the World Cup in Germany. In addition to Becks and Rooney, many famous names in English football at that time such as Gary Neville, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole or former F1 champion Jenson Button, and some faces in the entertainment industry also attended. They were all accompanied by their wives and girlfriends.
The video begins with Diddy standing on stage, seemingly taking the mic away from Becks, who is organising a charity auction at his family's Hertfordshire mansion. "I don't mean to interrupt you but I'm in a giving mood and I want to auction something," the American rapper says.
Diddy said he wasn't there long and didn't really know anyone, so he gave the winning bidder three options. One was to stay at his Hamptons home, fully catered for; two was to come to his studio in New York or London, where he would produce a record for the winner and their kids. The third option was a Saturday night out with Diddy in New York. "And I promise you'll be lying next to me when you wake up on Wednesday," the rap mogul said, to laughter.
Diddy speaks at Becks' auction event. Photo: ITV
After a series of celebrities, including veteran TV star Sharon Osbourne, made bids, Rooney paid $150,000 and emerged the winner. The former Manchester United striker chose the third option and had the added condition of bringing a friend along. Diddy promised: "After he gets to New York, we can be cousins. It'll be a non-stop party with lots of sexy ladies."
Daily Mail quoted the American rapper as saying that Rooney's wife allegedly prevented her husband from going out with Diddy in New York. A few months after the auction at Becks' house, Diddy and Rooney met again in Denmark. At that time, the rapper went to Copenhagen to attend the MTV awards and to meet with MU players while Rooney and his teammates were preparing to play the Champions League group stage against FC Copenhagen.
Sean John Combs, better known as Diddy, is one of the most famous music executives, producers and performers in Hip-Hop, having won three Grammy Awards. The powerful rapper was arrested on September 16 on a series of charges including sexual exploitation, prostitution and racketeering. Diddy is currently in custody, awaiting trial and has been denied bail despite posting $50 million bail.
