“I’m not going to say that I’m looking better than him. Which is true” - When Cristiano Ronaldo mocked Wayne Rooney at Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo once mocked his former teammate Wayne Rooney when he returned to Manchester United for his second stint. Notably, there had been speculation about animosity between the duo nearly two decades ago, but it had seemed like water under the bridge until recently.
The duo got into a spat on the pitch during England's 2006 World Cup quarter-final match against Portugal. It seemed as though their relationship might take a sour turn. However, they went on to enjoy success at Old Trafford, winning the Premier League three times and the UEFA Champions League once, among other honors.
However, after Cristiano Ronaldo had returned to Manchester United in 2021, Wayne Rooney criticized the legendary striker publicly. He questioned the forward's decision to refuse to get subbed onto the pitch while the Red Devils were losing to Tottenham Hotspur in late 2022. The Englishman said (via Mirror):
“The things he has done from the start of the season, it is not acceptable for Manchester United.”
In an interview with Piers Morgan in November of that year, which eventually led to Ronaldo leaving the club, the Portuguese striker said about Rooney's comments:
“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 looking better than him. Which is true.”
The interview also saw Cristiano Ronaldo lash out at the Manchester United owners and manager, which quickly led to the club terminating his contract. He has since left for Saudi Arabia, where he has played for Al-Nassr since January 2023.
Diogo Dalot reveals Cristiano Ronaldo's impact on him at Manchester United
Diogo Dalot has opened up about how Cristiano Ronaldo helped to improve his game while both players were at Manchester United. Notably, Dalot and Ronaldo also play together in the Portugal national team.
Spending time with the legendary forward, Dalot had to build up a routine around his exercise and nutrition that he still follows. He explained to the club media:
"I had the life experience to work with someone who was completely obsessed about it. By being with him so much of the time, that passed on to me. Now it’s just something that’s just part of me. I think I created this routine where I have to take some time every single day to recover, to work on my mental part as well, my physical part. It’s all a routine now."
Cristiano Ronaldo currently plays for Al-Nassr, where he has led them to second place in the Saudi Pro League table with his goalscoring efforts this season. The 39-year-old has clearly kept his routines and retained his prime, scoring an impressive 33 goals in just 29 games.