Former Manchester United player Wayne Rooney has weighed in on Cristiano Ronaldo’s attitude towards Portugal national team coach Jorge Jesus, his teammates and his fallout with the national team.

Speaking on The United Stand, Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer described Ronaldo’s attitude as “just so wrong”, saying it showed a disregard for his teammates and manager.

His comments come after Ronaldo left Portugal’s camp during the recent international break following a disagreement with head coach Jorge Jesus over his playing time.

Ronaldo claimed Jesus had assured him he would play for 30 minutes in Portugal’s clash with Norway. However, despite warming up, he was not brought on during the match.

He accused Jesus of “breaking his word” and compared himself to Pelé and Diego Maradona.

“My thoughts on Ronaldo are just: ‘Why?’ It was the same day [Lionel] Messi was retiring from Argentina, and for him to come out of the Portugal squad in that way, then put that statement out... It’s just wrong in every sense,” Rooney said.

“To undermine your manager, undermine your teammates the way he has, it was just so wrong. To undermine the Portuguese FA, everything about it was just wrong. From a football point of view, from being a teammate and a manager, it wasn’t nice to see. It comes to every player. You have to finish international football, and unfortunately, he’s not dealing with it well. It’s uncomfortable to see.”

Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo were key figures in Manchester United’s success under Sir Alex Ferguson, playing together from 2004 to 2009. During their time together, they helped the club win three Premier League titles and the Champions League. Ronaldo departed for Real Madrid in 2009, while Rooney remained at Old Trafford until 2017.

Rooney appeared particularly incensed by the part of Ronaldo’s statement in which he listed what he believed Jesus should have said at a news conference as the dispute began to unfold, following Ronaldo’s appearance as an unused substitute in Portugal’s Nations League match against Norway.

“You can’t tell a manager what he’s got to say. That just goes beyond anything I’ve ever seen.”

Ronaldo has also said he will remain available to play for Portugal if called up.

Jesus’ response

After Ronaldo released his lengthy statement, Jesus said he had only just seen it and would read it before commenting further, adding, “I have nothing else to say.”

He, however, denied having an agreement with Ronaldo and stressed that his focus was on improving the team’s performance and working with the Portuguese Football Federation.

He also left the door open for Ronaldo to return if he wished.

While Ronaldo’s latest fallout with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus has drawn widespread attention, it is far from the first time the veteran forward has found himself at odds with a manager.

Throughout his career, Ronaldo’s fierce competitiveness and strong personality have occasionally led to tensions with coaches over tactics, playing time and his role within a team.

One of the earliest high-profile disputes occurred during his final season under José Mourinho at Real Madrid in 2012-13. Although the pair enjoyed considerable success together, their relationship reportedly deteriorated over tactical disagreements and Ronaldo’s influence within the dressing room. A widely reported flashpoint came after a victory over Valencia, when Mourinho criticised Ronaldo’s defensive work rate.

The confrontation reportedly continued in the dressing room, with Mourinho later suggesting that Ronaldo struggled to accept criticism of his game. Their relationship never fully recovered, and Mourinho left Real Madrid at the end of the season.

Similar tensions emerged two years later under Rafael Benítez. Ronaldo was reportedly unhappy with Benítez’s rigid tactical style and was said to favour the more player-friendly approach of former manager Carlo Ancelotti.

During Benítez’s brief spell in charge, Ronaldo publicly praised Ancelotti, a move widely interpreted as a sign of his dissatisfaction with the new coach. Reports also pointed to disagreements over training methods and tactical instructions. Benítez was dismissed just months into his tenure.

At international level, Ronaldo’s relationship with former Portugal coach Fernando Santos came under scrutiny during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. After being dropped to the bench for Portugal’s round-of-16 clash against Switzerland, reports suggested Ronaldo was unhappy with the decision and had considered leaving the team’s camp.

While the Portuguese Football Federation denied claims that he had threatened to leave, the episode highlighted growing tensions between the captain and his coach. Portugal went on to thrash Switzerland 6-1 without Ronaldo in the starting line-up.

Later that same year, Ronaldo clashed with interim Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick. His frustration over being substituted became publicly evident when he reacted angrily after being taken off during a Premier League match against Brentford.

Reports also linked the pair to disagreements over leadership issues within the squad. Although the situation never reached a formal breaking point, relations between the player and manager remained strained throughout Rangnick’s tenure.

Arguably the most damaging managerial dispute of Ronaldo’s career came under Erik ten Hag at Manchester United during the 2022-23 season.

The relationship deteriorated as Ronaldo’s playing opportunities diminished. Matters came to a head when he refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur and left Old Trafford before the match had ended.

Weeks later, Ronaldo launched a scathing public attack on the club and Ten Hag in an interview with broadcaster Piers Morgan, declaring: “I don’t respect him because he doesn’t show me respect.”

The fallout ultimately led to Manchester United terminating his contract by mutual agreement, paving the way for his move to Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr.