Cristiano Ronaldo has launched a stinging attack on Wayne Rooney and labelled his former Manchester United teammate "finished."
Rooney recently criticised the 37-year-old megastar for his behaviour at the club, having notably left a match early because he doesn't have "respect" for manager Erik ten Hag. In a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo claims to feel "betrayed" by the Red Devils, having not been allowed to leave Old Trafford since he submitted a transfer request in the summer.
And it wasn't just the United hierarchy who felt his wrath, as the Portuguese striker ridiculed Rooney, who's four months younger than him but already retired. "I don't know why he criticises me so badly," Ronaldo declared on Piers Morgan Uncensored on TalkTV.
"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," he added with a smile.
His boss, Ten Hag, was another high-profile figure who the five-time Ballon d'Or winner took aim at, as Ronaldo explained why he refused to come on as a late substitute during the Red Devils' 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur last month.
"I don't have respect for him because he doesn't show respect for me," the United striker affirmed. If you don't have respect for me, I'm never gonna have respect for you."
Ten Hag is among many who Ronaldo claims to be making him feel like a "black sheep" at Old Trafford. "Not only the coach, but the other two or three guys around that are around the club," former Real Madrid hero went on.
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When Morgan asked if he feels that senior executives at the club are trying to get rid of him, Ronaldo responded: "Honestly, I shouldn't say that... don't know... But listen I don't care, I'm always... People should listen to the truth. Yes, I feel betrayed and I feel that some people don't want me here, not only this year but last year, too."
The Portugal captain, who's set to play at his fifth World Cup this month, then gave his take on what Sir Alex Ferguson - whose opinion is unknown - might think about the Red Devils' situation, having not won a Premier League title in nearly a decade and firmly remaining behind their rivals.
"He knows better than anybody that the club is not on the path they deserve to be," Ronaldo, whose United career is now surely over following his explosive comments, claimed. "He knows. Everyone knows. The people who don't see that… it's because they don't want to see; they are blind."
