Cristiano Ronaldo brands Wayne Rooney a 'rat' during interview with Piers Morgan

Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to call former Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney a rat during his interview with Piers Morgan.

During the explosive interview, Ronaldo pulled no punches as he unleashed attacks on United, Ralf Rangnick, Erik ten Hag and former teammates including Rooney and Gary Neville.

Whilst on the subject of money and fame, Morgan asked: “More pounds in the bank or more Instagram followers?”

Ronaldo, whilst laughing said: “That’s a good question! Probably similar!”

Morgan then said: “I’m just trying to work out how Wayne Rooney could hate you even more!”

Ronaldo then replied: “Not only him, imagine the rest of the rats they are going to criticise me too, but it is good to still be the number one.”

On the back of this interview, many believe that Ronaldo’s United career will come to a bitter end. When asked whether he thinks he will still be a United player come January, Ronaldo refused to think too much at the moment.

He told Morgan: “It's difficult to tell right now, it’s because, we, my mood is right now to The World Cup. It's probably my last World Cup, of course, my fifth World Cup. I don't know what's gonna happen after the World Cup, but as I told you before, and I will say again, the fans will be always in my heart.

“And I hope they been in my side, even if I back, or if I'm not back, or if I stay or whatever. Nobody's perfect. Episodes in the life we all have is part of human beings, is part of me to be a human being and father as well. I always will commit mistakes.

“But I don't know, it's hard to tell right now what's going to happen to World Cup because my focus is for the World Cup, for the Portugal national team.”

The Portugal captain also touched on the optimism he has ahead of the tournament in Qatar.

Ronaldo added: “I am very optimistic. We have a fantastic coach, we have a good generation of football players. I'm looking forward that we're going to it an amazing World Cup… [It’s] gonna be tough. Extremely difficult. But everything is possible. But of course, we're gonna compete.”

Portugal will kick off their World Cup campaign next week against Ghana.