Wayne Rooney replies Cristiano Ronaldo over Instagram jibes

Wayne Rooney has laughed off Ronaldo's jibes of him being jealous after the United forward attacked his former teammate on Instagram. (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

Wayne Rooney has taken a dig at Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portuguese star labeled his former teammate “jealous” in an interview over Rooney’s criticism of Ronaldo over his return to Manchester United.

Wayne Rooney had criticized Ronaldo’s return to Old Trafford, saying it was a luxury and that it caused an imbalance and also unsettled Bruno Fernandes. Rooney was speaking in the wake of rumors that he might be considered for the Manchester United job.

Ronaldo fired back in a swift response that his former teammate was just jealous of him and he couldn’t careless but Rooney has given an instant response to that.

"There's probably not a football player on the planet that isn't jealous of Cristiano," the Derby County manager told reporters at a news conference on Thursday. "The career he's had, the trophies he's won, the money he's earned ... the six-pack, his body. I think every player, bar probably Lionel Messi, is jealous of Cristiano."

The feud started when Rooney appear on Sky Sports with Jamie Carragher and responded to a question of if Ronaldo’s transfer to United was the right decision last summer:

"You'd have to say no at the minute," Rooney responded. "He's scored goals, important goals in the Champions League early on in the season. He scored obviously the hat trick against Tottenham.

"But I think if you're looking to the future of the club, you have to go with younger, hungry players to lift Manchester United over these next two or three years.

"Obviously, Cristiano is getting on a bit. He certainly isn't the player he was in his 20s, and that happens -- that's football. He's a goal threat, but the rest of the game they need more and they need young, hungry players."

Ronaldo jumped on the Instagram post and commented: “two jealous”.