Wayne Rooney seems to have shown his appreciation for an Instagram post by his former Manchester United colleague Cristiano Ronaldo as the Portuguese star celebrates his 40th birthday. Both players experienced significant success at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson during a golden period for the club, before their collaboration came to an end in 2009 when Ronaldo transferred to Real Madrid in a deal that set a world record at the time. Their relationship experienced fluctuations both at Manchester United and on the international level, highlighted by a clash between Ronaldo and Rooney during the 2006 World Cup, when Rooney was sent off for stamping on Riccardo Carvalho. The rivalry appeared to flare up again when the 40-year-old criticized the former Everton player for remarks he made regarding his difficulties at United under Erik ten Hag. It seems that any past issues may have been resolved, as Rooney expressed his approval by liking Ronaldo’s Instagram post celebrating the iconic footballer’s significant birthday. In his message to fans, Ronaldo shared: “Last cryosport before 40,” flashing a thumbs up before the upcoming match between Al-Nassr and Al-Fayha on Friday, a post that received a like from his former teammate. Rooney, who managed Plymouth Argyle until his dismissal in December after a seven-month stint, reportedly found the jabs directed at him regarding Ronaldo puzzling, as reported by Sky Sports. Tensions appeared to rise again after Rooney expressed concerns that Ronaldo was turning into a distraction at Old Trafford. He replied, “I don’t believe that’s the case.” He and Messi are often considered the two greatest players in history, and it’s really a matter of personal opinion on who is better. However, I believe that his performances since the beginning of the season have been unacceptable for Manchester United. I’ve noticed Roy Keane standing up for him. Roy refused to accept that.
