‘I’d have done the same thing’ – Wayne Rooney had no issue with Cristiano Ronaldo after infamous World Cup 2006 red card

CRISTIANO RONALDO’S infamous wink after Wayne Rooney was sent off in the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals sparked fury among England fans.

But now Rooney has offered a fascinating insight into the situation, and admitted he would have acted ‘exactly the same’ as his Manchester United colleague did.

PA

Rooney was sent off in the World Cup quarter-final between England and Portugal in 2006[/caption]

BBC

Ronaldo had a huge hand in getting his Man Utd teammate sent off, and winked to the Portugal bench after Rooney was given his marching orders[/caption]

Ronaldo played a major role in Rooney being given his marching orders for a stamp on Portugal’s Ricardo Carvalho, with the Three Lions eventually losing the game on penalties.

After the incident Ronaldo cheekily winked to the Portugal bench for getting the England star sent off, in a move that many believed would damage the pair’s relationship at club level.

Although Rooney has now revealed he would have done the same thing had the shoe been on the other foot.

The now Derby County boss told Ronaldo after the game that their focus had to be on Man Utd duty, and not let the incident come between them.

He recalled saying to CR7, as per the Daily Mail: “Listen, you’re going to get a lot of stick from the press, I’m going to get a lot of stick from the press, my focus now is on Man United.

“There is no issue with me whatsoever, I would have done exactly the same trying to get England a win against Portugal and this is a big year for us and we have every chance of winning the league.”

FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

Evidently Rooney’s words worked, with no signs of a sour relationship between the pair in the following Premier League season.

His hunch about United being title contenders turned out to be true as well, as the Red Devils pipped Chelsea to the Prem trophy.

Ronaldo finished the season as the league’s third top scorer with 17 goals, while Rooney’s 14 efforts saw him finish fourth top scorer – with no sign of a hangover from the World Cup controversy.

Ronaldo also won the PFA Player’s Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards.

Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford