“When we are playing, I don’t give a f**k about him” - When Wayne Rooney touched upon relationship with ‘annoying’ Cristiano Ronaldo

Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney once admitted he thought Cristiano Ronaldo was extremely 'annoying' during their time at Manchester United. The duo found success at Old Trafford when they played together between 2004 and 2009, helping the Red Devils win eight trophies.

During a black-tie dinner in March 2022, Rooney delved into his relations with his former teammates. When it came to Ronaldo, the former England international stated (via talkSPORT):

“Cristiano was so good and so f****** annoying at the same time. He is probably not as good now but he is probably just as annoying.”

Wayne Rooney also discussed England's infamous clash against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in the 2006 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals. Rooney was sent off in the 61st minute for a foul on Ricardo Carvalho. However, Ronaldo protested with the referee for Rooney's dismissal and was seen winking afterward, which caused an uproar.

“He likes diving. I had no issue with Cristiano whatsoever. I spoke to him in the tunnel. I said, ‘I have no issue with you getting me sent off’, because I’d spent the first half trying to get him booked for diving."

“I am English, he is Portuguese. When we are playing I do not give a f*** about him. He is not my mate. But when we have finished, we are mates again."

Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. got the last laugh as they secured a 3-1 win on penalties after the game ended 0-0 in normal time.

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"Was similar to Zlatan Ibrahimovic" - When Wayne Rooney delved into his antics with Cristiano Ronaldo

Wayne Rooney may have stated that he found Cristiano Ronaldo to be annoying back in 2022. However, while making an appearance on the BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, the 38-year-old admitted they had a good relationship in the dressing room at Old Trafford.

In June 2024, Wayne Rooney said (via GOAL):

"We had a really good relationship, but we were the complete opposites. It was funny. Ronaldo was such a good character. Some of the stuff he used to do, with laughing and messing around, was similar to Zlatan Ibrahimovic."

He added:

"He would look into the mirror telling himself he is beautiful. Then there is me, who is the complete opposite - I did not have his looks! I was always telling him he was ugly. I used to say, 'no you’re not' - messing around - but it used to wind him up."

He also admitted they used to play pranks on former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson:

"The two of us would always play pranks on the manager and I would pick him up at times to take him to training or to the hotel."

Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo were a formidable attacking duo on the pitch during their five years together. They shared the pitch 205 times during their time at Manchester United, with Ronaldo setting up Rooney with 14 goals and 11 vice-versa.