Manchester United heroes Cristiano Ronaldo and Rio Ferdinand played together for the Red Devils between 2003 and 2009, winning three Premier League titles, a Champions League and an FA Cup.
Ronaldo saw his former teammate, who was on duty for broadcasters BT Sport, after stepping off the United team bus prior to their match with Everton on Saturday. Earlier this week, Ronaldo engaged in a seemingly frosty online exchange with former United colleague Wayne Rooney.
The England legend had questioned whether Ronaldo’s return to Old Trafford was a success while appearing as a guest on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football. He said: "You'd have to say no at the minute. I think he's scored goals, he's scored important goals in the Champions League early on in the season, he scored the hat-trick against Tottenham.
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"But I think if you're looking to the future of the club, you have to go with younger, hungry players to do the best and lift Manchester United over these next two or three years. Obviously Cristiano is getting on a bit, he certainly isn't the player he was when he was in his 20s, and that happens, that's football.”
Later in the week, he posted a photo of himself in the Sky Sports studio on Instagram, to which Ronaldo commented “two jealous.” In what context the Portugal captain meant this is not certain, but some have mused that it could have been in retaliation to Rooney’s comments, or that he thought the Derby boss is jealous of his United return.
Either way, the Rams manager responded to his reaction when asked about it in a press conference on Thursday. “I’d say there’s not a football player on the planet who isn’t jealous of Cristiano Ronaldo,” he said.
“The career he’s had, the trophies he’s won, the money he’s earned. I think every player bar Lionel Messi is jealous of Cristiano.”
Meanwhile, Ferdinand has always been a strong defender of Ronaldo, who has persistently rubbished talk that United are better without him in the side. "Are United a stronger team without him? I cannot agree with that at all,” he said last month .
And it was all smiles when the two reconnected on Saturday as they both had a quick catch-up, sharing a warm embrace. Many have argued that Ronaldo loves to be loved, and plays best when he is so.
The exchange was likely made more comfortable by Ferdinand’s public defence of his name in a time when not everyone has.
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