CRISTIANO RONALDO appeared to hit back at a dig from Wayne Rooney.
The pair played together for five years at Manchester United.
They helped form one of the most potent strike forces in Premier League history alongside Carlos Tevez.
And the trio also combined to fire the Red Devils to Champions League glory in 2008.
However, their relationship has broken down in recent years.
Rooney, 40, slammed Ronaldo for refusing to come off the bench under Erik ten Hag in 2022.
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And that sparked a public war of words.
Ronaldo, 40, told Piers Morgan three years ago: “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…
“They [Rooney and Gary Neville] are not my friends, they are colleagues.”
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Then Rooney confirmed he believes Lionel Messi is the greatest footballer of all time – not Ronaldo.
The ex-England captain said: “I have the greatest respect for Cristiano and, when people argue he is the greatest, I know where they are coming from and respect that opinion.
“But, for me, Messi is just different. I played against him several times and it’s his ability to take and hold the ball, to control games, run at players, pass and score and be the difference.
“There is just such joy watching his games. He has what Diego Maradona had in terms of the ability to go past players and execute the full range of skills — pass, shoot, cross — and everything in terms of vision.”
In September, Rooney insisted he still “loves” Ronaldo despite their fractured friendship.
He told Rio Ferdinand: “People think I hate him (Ronaldo), 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.
“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.
‘I DON’T AGREE’
“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.”
However, Ronaldo has had his latest say on the ongoing tension.
In his new interview with Piers Morgan, the broadcaster brings up the Rooney situation again.
And a snippet from the trailer seems to show a blunt and bolshy response.
Morgan says: “Wayne Rooney said he doesn’t hate you, but he still said Messi is better.”
The clip then sees Ronaldo reply: “No problem.
“I don’t agree. I don’t want to be humble.”
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Other mini snippets from the interview, which will have the first part released this afternoon, reveals the unlikely pair discuss marriage, world peace, Diogo Jota’s death and David Beckham.
The trailer ends with Ronaldo declaring: “I’m perfecto,” before both men break into laughter.
