WAYNE ROONEY has hit back at Cristiano Ronaldo after being branded “a rat” by his former Manchester United team-mate.
United’s leading all-time scorer was on the receiving end of a scathing rant from a frustrated Ronaldo in an explosive sit-down interview with Piers Morgan.
The jibe came as a surprise to Rooney, who fired a thinly-veiled one back at his former team-mate when asked about the long-running Messi vs Ronaldo debate ahead of the World Cup.
He told The Times: “Everyone has different views on [Lionel] Messi and Ronaldo but I have said many times that I think Messi is the best.
“I have watched lots of videos of Diego Maradona, who was a similar player, but Messi is better.
“He has everything — the way he controls games, his dribbling, his assists — whereas Ronaldo is more of a goalscorer.
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“It would be a great story for football if either Messi or Ronaldo won the World Cup.
“I have heard some of the Argentine players saying that they want to win it for Messi.
“That’s crazy — and might only increase the pressure on them.”
Rooney reckons Paris Saint-Germain hit Messi could lead his nation to glory in Qatar.
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The 37-year-old said: “For me, Argentina are the favourites. Unlike in 2018, they have plenty of good, solid players around Lionel Messi such as Lautaro Martínez, Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul and of course Angel Di Maria.
“Winning the Copa America last year will have given them confidence and has taken a bit of pressure off them. The climate will suit them too.
“The only thing they are missing is a No 9, that focal point in attack, but I think they will be really dangerous.”
Ronaldo’s branding of Rooney a “rat” came after Morgan tried to figure out how the England legend could “hate” his former pal even more when asked if he’d prefer to have more money or more Instagram followers.
The Portuguese replied: “Not only him, imagine the rest of the rats they are going to criticise me too, but it is good to still be the No 1.”
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Ronaldo’s bombshell interview, in which he made a string of serious allegations against his employers, has enraged the United brass.
And club chiefs are currently making moves to SACK the five-time Ballon d’Or winner – who wanted to leave Old Trafford in the summer – for breach of contract.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
