Wayne Rooney has finally revealed how he really felt towards Cristiano Ronaldo after being sent off in England’s World Cup quarter-final against Portugal in 2006. Ronaldo, who was Rooney’s Manchester United teammate at the time, played a role in the dismissal and then winked towards the Portugal bench – a gesture that sparked fury in England and had many believing their relationship was broken beyond repair.
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The flashpoint came when Rooney stepped on Ricardo Carvalho, leading to a heated confrontation. Ronaldo was seen speaking to referee Jorge Larionda before Rooney received his red card, with the infamous wink interpreted as celebration. England went on to lose the game on penalties, and Ronaldo became a target for the English media and fans.
Rooney has now dismissed those claims of a feud. Speaking on his BBC podcast The Wayne Rooney Show, he explained: “I spoke to Ronaldo right after the game in the tunnel and no issue whatsoever. I just said good luck for the semi-final.” He even admitted he had been trying to get Ronaldo booked earlier in the match, adding: “If I could have got Ronaldo sent off, I would have. For that game we are rivals, but once it’s over and back playing for United, it is done.”
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While the press looked for conflict, Rooney insists the incident actually brought them closer together. In their first game back at United, the pair combined in a 5-1 win over Fulham, beginning a run of dominance that saw them deliver three straight Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League, with Ronaldo also winning his first Ballon d’Or during that spell.
Rooney also named the five toughest defenders he faced in the Champions League. He placed John Terry at the top, describing him as “horrible to play against” and a leader who always left his mark in challenges. He also highlighted Gerard Piqué, who struggled during his early United days but went on to enjoy a decorated career at Barcelona, alongside legends Paolo Maldini, Ricardo Carvalho and Alessandro Nesta.
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Ronaldo, now at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, could soon cross paths with United again. The club is considering a mid-season friendly in Saudi to boost revenues after missing out on European football. Manager Ruben Amorim is reportedly against the plan, while Rooney has publicly said he has “no faith” the coach can turn results around after a poor start to the season.
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