Ronaldo statement 'beyond anything I've ever seen' – Rooney slams former team-mate

Ronaldo left Portugal's camp during the recent international break after Jorge Jesus kept him on the bench throughout a 2-1 Nations League win in Norway. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner then issued a statement accusing his manager of a “breach of trust”.

According to Ronaldo's statement, he decided to leave after Jesus refused to read a series of pre-agreed remarks at a press conference. Those remarks amounted to an apology to Ronaldo, compared him to Pele and Diego Maradona, and praised his interactions with fans.

Ronaldo insists he remains available for international selection, but the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has suspended him pending an investigation.

Rooney, who made 140 Premier League appearances alongside Ronaldo for Manchester United between 2004 and 2009, said his former team-mate had undermined his manager, team-mates and federation.

“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 on The United Stand.

“To undermine your manager and undermine your team-mates 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 team-mate of his and a manager, it wasn't nice to see.

“It comes down to every player. You have to stop playing international football eventually and, unfortunately, he's not dealing with it well. It's uncomfortable to see.”