Wayne Rooney reportedly reacted to Cristiano Ronaldo calling him out in bombshell interview
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has reportedly reacted to former club teammate Cristiano Ronaldo calling him out in his explosive interview.
Ronaldo sat down with TalkTV host Piers Morgan for a bombshell interview and tore into United Erik ten Hag, former club manager Ralf Rangnick and the Glazer family.
And the 37-year-old Portuguese superstar also aimed his stinging words of criticism at his former United teammates, including Rooney and Gary Neville.
Snippets from the interview have been widely viewed on social media, with the full chat dropping on TalkTV over two nights on Wednesday and Thursday.
When asked by Morgan about his thoughts on Rooneyās criticism, Ronaldo responded: āI don’t understand, you should ask this question to him. I donāt know why he criticised me so bad.ā
Ronaldo, who played alongside Rooney under Sir Alex Ferguson, continued to pull no punches towards his former teammate when prompted by Morgan.
When asked if it could be jealously fuelling his criticism, Ronaldo continued: āProbably, because he finished his career in his 30s.
āIām still playing at a high level, Iām not going to say that Iām looking better than him, which is true.
āItās hard to listen to that kind of criticism and negativity from people who played with you, for example, Gary Neville as well.
āPeople can have their own opinion but they donāt really know whatās going on inside the training ground at Carrington or even my life.
āThey should listen to not only one point of view, they have to listen to my point of view as well. Itās easy to criticise but if you donāt know the whole story, itās easy.
āThey are not my friends.ā
Rooney has not spoken publicly about Ronaldoās scathing callout, but Sky Sports reports that he is ābemusedā by the criticism from the disgruntled United forward.
According to reports, the England and United legend āfeels no animosityā towards Ronaldo over his remarks.
Rooney, who retired from football in 2021 and was later appointed Derby County manager, has previously said Ronaldo is one of the best players of all time alongside Lionel Messi.
Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo has rocked the footballing world with his bombshell interview with Piers Morgan. Credit: AlamyThe 37-year-old DC United boss was critical of Ronaldoās antics at Old Trafford this season and even questioned United legend Roy Keane for defending the five-time Ballon dāOr winner.
āHim [Ronaldo] and Messi are arguably the two best players of all time and you can go either way with that, whatever way you decide,ā he told talkSPORT.
āBut I just think the things he has done from the start of the season; it is not acceptable for Manchester United. Iāve seen Roy Keane defending him. Roy wouldnāt accept that. Roy wouldnāt accept that at all.
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āIt is a distraction which Manchester United donāt need at the minute, when they are trying to rebuild.
āFor Cristiano, just get your head down and work and be ready to play when the manager needs you.
āIf he does that, he will be an asset. If he doesnāt, it will become an unwanted distraction.ā