WAYNE ROONEY has said he “absolutely loves” Cristiano Ronaldo after the breakdown of the former teammates’ relationship over the years.
Rooney and Ronaldo were close pals and a formidable duo on the pitch for years, but have traded verbal blows in the media in recent times.
Wayne Rooney has sent a message to Cristiano Ronaldo after their relationship broke down[/caption]
But Rooney, 39, has gone on record to say he holds no ill will towards Ronaldo despite the public war-of-words.
Speaking to Rio Ferdinand on his Rio Meets podcast, Rooney said: “People think I hate him, I love him.
“I think he is an absolute genius and what he’s doing is incredible. I love Cristiano. I don’t think people realise how close me and him were.”
Rooney, who went on record to say he thinks Messi is better than Ronaldo in 2022, has backtracked on those comments in his latest interview.
The retired striker now reckons Ronaldo, 40, could be considered the greatest of all time thanks to his consistent numbers in Saudi Arabia during the twilight of his career.
He added: “I think in his last three seasons he’s been top goalscorer in Saudi.
“I absolutely love Messi, love watching him play and that was the only reason [I claimed he was better], because I think Messi has a little bit more in terms of how he played and taking players on and whatever.
“Ronaldo’s a killer. People think because I have said ‘Messi is better than Ronaldo’, that I don’t like him or I speak down on him. I just like the little flair Messi has, that’s it.
Rooney previously claimed Lionel Messi was better than Cristiano Ronaldo[/caption]
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“Cristiano is an absolute genius and what he’s doing is incredible and so I take my hat off to him. I couldn’t speak a bad word about him.”
He continued: “To be honest, over the last couple of years, I’m thinking he’s going to be the one [at the top] when you look back.”
Ronaldo previously lashed out at Rooney in a bombshell TalkTV interview with Piers Morgan, making things personal with an apparent dig at Wazza’s looks.
He said: “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 looking better than him. Which is true…”
The two superstars used to have a close relationship on and off the pitch during their five-year stint at Manchester United together.
Rooney previously opened up in a Sunday Times column about how he and Ronaldo were the pranksters of the group at Carrington, writing: “It was always the two of us doing pranks on the manager or other players.”
But Ronaldo already shut the door on rekindling that friendship in the past, insisting he and Rooney are not pals and are instead just colleagues.
Asked by Piers Morgan if he was mates with Wazza and fellow former United teammate Gary Neville, Ronaldo said: “They are not my friends, they are colleagues.
“We play together, they’re not coming, we’re not ever having dinner together.”
Ronaldo previously claimed Rooney is not his friend[/caption]
