"It's like.." - Manchester United star compared to France icon Zinedine Zidane

Cristiano Ronaldo’s bombshell interview with Piers Morgan was compared to France legend Zinedine Zidane’s World Cup final headbutt.

The Portugal star has caused a stir since details of his interview with Piers Morgan were revealed on Sunday. In the 90-minute sit down the 37-year-old says he feels “betrayed” by Manchester United and claims that he does not “respect” manager Erik ten Hag.

Ronaldo also took aim at Man Utd owners the Glazers, who he claimed “don’t care about the club”, and was scathing of former teammates Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville.

With the interview due to be aired in full across Wednesday and Thursday night, it appears Ronaldo’s future at Old Trafford appears untenable.

Ronaldo has his Zidane moment

Southampton winger Theo Walcott compared Ronaldo’s interview to Zidane’s infamous headbutt in France’s 2006 World Cup final defeat to Italy.

He also insisted that the Man Utd forward has tarnished his Old Trafford legacy and has no option but to find a new club.

Speaking to TalkSPORT Walcott said: “Cristiano Ronaldo, for me, has been one of the most outstanding players I’ve ever seen in this generation obviously along with [Lionel] Messi – but he’s got to move.

“For me, he’s obviously got something already that he’s planning to do and I just feel it’s a shame, it’s that legacy that people are just going to remember this now.

“It’s like when I think of Zidane, I always think of the headbutt, I don’t know what it is, and think that now with Ronaldo and what he’s done here.”

Zidane’s headbutt against Italian defender Marco Materazzi is one of the World Cup’s most iconic moments and was the enigmatic Frenchman’s last act as a professional footballer.

Walcott added: “[Ronaldo’s] obviously exposed himself before the World Cup, he’s put it all about him. It’s what Cristiano does, which is why he’s been so good for so many years.

“He’ll thrive going to this World Cup because people will be talking about him, people will be expecting to shine and he probably will because that’s what Ronaldo does.”

Topics: Football, Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo, Theo Walcott

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.