Wayne Rooney settles Cristiano Ronaldo myth, claims ex-teammate 'way beyond anything I've seen'

Many were under the assumption that Wayne Rooney didn’t see eye-to-eye with former Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

On the pitch, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo created unforgettable moments for Manchester United.

They were highly successful as a duo at United and both blossomed as footballers under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson.

While Ronaldo will be remembered as arguably the greatest player to play for United, Rooney is the club’s record goalscorer, having scored 253 goals for the Red Devils.

Rooney and Ronaldo were teammates when United won the Champions League for a third time in 2008, beating Chelsea in Moscow.

Ronaldo spent one more season at United before leaving for Real Madrid; however, he returned in 2021, only to last a year.

Wayne Rooney admires Cristiano Ronaldo, despite reports to the contrary

It is no secret that Rooney and Ronaldo had their differences over the years.

At the European Championship in 2004, Rooney was sent off in the second half of the quarter-final tie when a clash with Ricardo Carvalho led to him being sent off after being aggravated by a winking Ronaldo.

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In 2022, Rooney criticised Ronaldo’s behaviour during his second spell at Old Trafford. Ronaldo responded to his remarks in an infamous interview with Piers Morgan.

Ronaldo said: “I don’t know why he criticises me so badly… probably because he finished his career and I’m still playing at a high level. I’m not going to say that I’m better looking than him. Which is true.”

However, Ronaldo got it completely wrong. Rooney has since told former United defender Rio Ferdinand that he doesn’t hate Ronaldo.

“People think I hate him,” Rooney told Rio Ferdinand Presents.

“I love him! I think he’s an absolute genius; what he’s doing is incredible. I don’t think people realise how close he and I were. Just because I’ve said Messi is better than Ronaldo, people think I don’t like Cristiano.

“To be honest, over the last couple of years, I’m thinking, ‘Do you know what?’, he’s probably gonna be the one when you look back, Cristiano, because he keeps going. I absolutely love Messi, I love watching him play, and that was the only reason because I think Messi had a little bit more in terms of how he played, and taking players on.”

Rooney added: “Cristiano has got something in his brain which I don’t think anyone’s got. He’s got this mindset and mentality which is way beyond anything I’ve seen in football.”

Rooney now considers Ronaldo a ‘genius’ for continuing his career into his 40s, playing for Al Nassr and the Portugal national team.

Rooney opens up on Sir Alex Ferguson bust-up

Back in 2010, Rooney wanted to know who Sir Alex Ferguson was planning to sign before renewing his contract. It led to an infamous feud between the pair.

Rooney maintains that his question was never answered as Ferguson didn’t take kindly to his authority being questioned.

He said: “I think that question I asked then, in 2010, it still hasn’t been answered, been addressed, from 2010. And I think fans have seen…

“I don’t think, if fans look back, they’d be like, you know what, he actually seen what was coming a little bit. And I don’t think it’s been fixed since 2010.”

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