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Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Manchester United, Wayne Rooney
Daniel Marland
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Manchester United, Wayne Rooney
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's comments about Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney's time together at Manchester United have re-emerged.
Ronaldo unleashed an explosive attack on former teammate Rooney during his box-office interview with Piers Morgan last year.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner claimed Rooney was 'jealous' of his career longevity while appearing to refer to him as a 'rat' along with other former colleagues.
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During their time together at Old Trafford, Ronaldo and Rooney won three Premier League titles and the Champions League.
Both players enjoyed playing with one another, Rooney acting as the perfect foil for the future five-time Ballon d'Or winner to strut his stuff.
Ibrahimovic saw it a different way. Back in 2015, before Ronaldo returned to United, he remarked Rooney was putting in more work which got overlooked.
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He told BBC Sport: "When he played with Cristiano Ronaldo, all the work was done by Rooney.
"These great players have their moments over one to three years. But to continue over five years, for ten years, the way Wayne Rooney has done is not easy. It's pressure every day playing for a big team."
Rooney stayed at United until 2017, becoming their all-time top goalscorer and adding two more Premier League titles to his name.
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Ibrahimovic would play one season with Rooney at United, winning the Carabao Cup and Europa League under Jose Mourinho.
Ronaldo's second spell at United came to an end following his interview with Morgan.
The 38-year-old had already attempted to force a move from United the prior summer after they failed to qualify for the Champions League.
Ten Hag believed Ronaldo didn't have the technical ability to function in his system, preferring either Marcus Rashford or Anthony Martial up front.
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Before leaving United during the World Cup break, Ronaldo only managed to score one Premier League goal.
Following a 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa, which ended up being his final game in a United shirt, Ten Hag criticised his team's style of play.
When asked if it was his instruction to launch balls directly to Ronaldo, Ten Hag replied: "No, I think it was stupid to do that.
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"We delivered crosses in from too far and too forcing. Then, we don't help him. We have to bring in the crosses at the right moment.
"I think in the second half also we bring too quickly the crosses in. The right moment was from Christian Eriksen in the first half and he found the moment in the pocket to deliver the ball to Cristiano at the far post. That was the right moment."