Vincent Kompany could not resist a cheeky jibe at old rival Cristiano Ronaldo when assessing the former Manchester United striker as a potential Burnley signing.
Ronaldo is now available after having his contract terminated by mutual consent with immediate effect.
The Championship leaders are not expected to make a move to sign the 37-year-old but in any case ex-Manchester City defender Kompany, who is the manager of the Turf Moor side, delivered a brutal response about the possibility of signing Ronaldo.
“We need players who can run,” he joked on BBC Sport at half-time of France’s World Cup clash with Australia.
Kompany backed Ronaldo and United to move on from the saga that has gulfed the club during the player’s push to leave in the summer, and subsequent bombshell interview released over the last week.
He noted: “In the end, everybody loses, perhaps except for the United manager [Erik ten Hag] and I think it’s a problem that’s resolved and they’ll move on from this, I’m sure.”
Fellow former Premier League defender Rio Ferdinand disagreed however, as he said earlier in the day that both parties will be “delighted” by the outcome.
“I think both parties will be delighted now,” Ferdinand stated.
“He obviously did that interview with the mindset he wanted to get out the club as he wasn't happy and he made it very clear.
“But I also think Ten Hag has got what he wanted. Both parties are happy. Move on. Next chapter for Cristiano Ronaldo.”
