Ronaldo 'an unwanted distraction' at Man Utd says Rooney

FT Desk

• 11 Nov 2022 10:20 CST
• 3 min read

Cristiano Ronaldo's fallings out with Erik ten Hag at Manchester United have become increasingly public this season, and his former teammate Wayne Rooney has told him to 'get his head down'.

Rooney and Ronaldo won three Premier Leagues and one Champions League together during the Portuguese attacker's first spell at Old Trafford, but they had more than one run-in during their prime playing years.

Ronaldo helped get Rooney sent off when England met Portugal at the 2006 World Cup, getting in referee Horacio Elizondo's face after Rooney had stepped on Ricardo Carvalho before winking at his bench.

READ: Ronaldo has dropped hint at surprise future club

They patched things up and won the league together the next season, but that doesn't mean Rooney won't speak freely when asked about Ronaldo's Man Utd antics this season, as he was on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast on talkSPORT.

"No, I don’t think so," said the current D.C United manager when asked if United were better this season with Ronaldo in the side. "Him and [Lionel] Messi are arguably the two best players of all-time and you can go either way with that, whatever way you decide.

'Roy Keane wouldn't accept that'

"But I just think the things he's done from the start of the season, it's not acceptable for Manchester United. I've seen Roy Keane defending him. Roy wouldn't accept that. Roy wouldn't accept that at all. It is a distraction which Manchester United don't need at the minute, trying to rebuild.

READ: Man Utd's transfer plans: Next steps of Ten Hag's overhaul revealed

"For Cristiano, just get your head down and work and be ready to play when the manager needs you. If he does that, he'll be an asset. If he doesn't, it'll become an unwanted distraction."

Ronaldo has left two games before full-time without permission since Ten Hag took charge - against Rayo Vallecano in pre-season and then in the 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur last month, but he led the side out as captain against Aston Villa last time out.

Ronaldo could join Rooney in the USA next year with Inter Miami reportedly interested in signing the Portuguese, who, at 37, remains determined to add to his 1,066 senior career goals.