Wayne Rooney has opened up about his relationship with former Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, insisting that despite past tensions, the two share deep mutual respect.
Their connection, forged on the pitch at Old Trafford, was one of the most successful attacking partnerships of the Premier League era. But in recent years, public exchanges have painted a different picture.
Back in 2022, Rooney publicly criticised Ronaldo for his behaviour during his second stint at Manchester United, calling him an “unwelcome distraction” after the Portuguese star refused to come on as a substitute and stormed off the pitch against Tottenham.
Ronaldo fired back in an interview with Piers Morgan, saying: “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.”
Rooney’s true feelings about Ronaldo revealed
Despite the heated words, Rooney has now revealed a different side of their relationship. Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents, he explained, as cited by GOAL:
“People think I hate him. 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’s respect for Ronaldo shone even brighter as he continued:
“Cristiano’s an absolute genius in what he’s doing; he’s just turned 40, and what he’s doing is incredible. I take my hat off to him, I think, ‘You know what, fair play,’ and I can’t speak a bad word about him.”
For Rooney, admiration for Lionel Messi remains strong, but his recent reflections underscore just how remarkable Ronaldo’s longevity and consistency have been — a legacy that, in Rooney’s eyes, may ultimately set him apart.