Ronaldo: That World Cup wink was not right
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The Real Madrid-bound star reflected on the controversial moment that followed Rooney's red card against Portugal - an incident that sparked widespread debate and strained their relationship at the time.
Key takeaways
- Ronaldo admits his 2006 World Cup wink was wrong.
- Incident followed Rooney's red card against Portugal.
- He says the experience helped him grow as a player.
The incident that sparked controversy
During the heated clash in Germany, Rooney was sent off for stamping on Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho.Ronaldo, who was involved in the aftermath of the incident, was later seen winking towards the Portugal bench - a gesture that quickly went viral and drew criticism from fans and pundits alike.
The moment became one of the most talked-about incidents of the tournament.
'Not the right thing to do'
Speaking about the episode to News Of The World, Ronaldo acknowledged that emotions got the better of him.Sometimes you do things because emotions are running high but Wayne is my good friend.
I can't regret it because I think the whole experience made me stronger.
But looking back it was not the right thing to do and not something I would do any more.
Growth and maturity since 2006
Ronaldo also reflected on how the experience shaped him as both a player and a person.I have done a lot of growing up since then. Coming back from the World Cup in 2006 was very hard but ultimately it was a good thing.He credited Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson for helping him deal with the situation and grow stronger from it.
The boss said the experience could make me stronger if I handled it in the right way. And the outcome of that prediction goes to show why you don't question Sir Alex Ferguson.
Relationship with Rooney
Despite speculation at the time that the incident damaged their relationship, Ronaldo insisted that Rooney remained a friend.Both players continued to feature together at United following the tournament, contributing to the club's success in subsequent seasons.
