OUTBURST: Lisandro Martínez slams Manchester United hierarchy after Atlético defeat

Former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has criticized Cristiano Ronaldo's decision to leave the Portugal national team, calling it "wrong in every sense." Ronaldo's abrupt exit from the team occurred after a dispute with manager Jorge Jesus, who allegedly failed to meet his obligations. In a public statement, Ronaldo claimed Jesus couldn't fulfill his commitments, prompting his withdrawal.

Despite apologizing to his teammates and fans, Ronaldo accepted a provisional suspension from the Portuguese Football Association following his unexpected departure. Rooney, who played alongside Ronaldo, shared his thoughts on the matter during an appearance on The Stick to United podcast. He expressed his disapproval of Ronaldo's conduct, stating that it was "wrong in every sense" from his perspective.

Rooney believed Ronaldo's actions were undermining both his manager and teammates, which he deemed unacceptable. He also suggested that Ronaldo was struggling to accept the fact that his international career was nearing its end, contributing to his current behavior. Rooney further emphasized that Ronaldo was failing to accept the inevitable conclusion of his international career and was managing the transition poorly.

"You cannot dictate to the manager what statements must be made during a press conference; such conduct transcends anything I have previously encountered," Rooney concluded.