Gary Neville responds to Cristiano Ronaldo after he calls out him out and says 'we’re not ever having dinner together'

Gary Neville has responded to Cristiano Ronaldo after he said they are not friends and "not ever having dinner together".

In an extended interview with Piers Morgan, which will be shown on TalkTV later this week, Ronaldo laid into a number of figures associated with Manchester United, who he claims have "betrayed him".

In the latest excerpts released, Ronaldo went in on former colleagues Neville and Wayne Rooney for criticising him in the media following on from his refusal come on as a substitute against Spurs.

He commented: “People can have their own opinion, but they don’t really know what’s going on. For example, inside the training ground and Carrington area or even my life – they should listen not only to one point of view, they have to listen to my point of view as well. Because it’s easy to criticise. But if you don’t know the whole story, it’s easy.

“It’s easy to criticise, I don’t know if you have a job in television that they must criticise to be more famous. I really don’t understand it.”

Asked if he felt Rooney was jealous of him, Ronaldo said: "I don't understand … I don't know why he criticised me so badly.

"Probably, because he finished his career in his thirties and I'm still playing at a high level. I'm not going to say I'm looking better than him, which is true, but it's hard to listen to that sort of negativity from people who played with you."

Morgan then asked about Neville, who Ronaldo recently blanked after the Sky Sports pundit came down hard on the 37-year-old and said he should leave.

Ronaldo claimed Neville is using him for fame, explaining: "These people can have his own opinion but they don't really know what's going on … it's easy to criticise, I don't know if they have a job in television that they must criticise to be more famous … I think they take advantage."

"It's hard when you see people who were in the dressing room with you criticising you in that way. It doesn't hurt me … but it's not good to listen to that. A little bit disappointing."

Continuing on Rooney and Neville, Ronaldo stressed: They are not my friends, they are colleagues. We play together, they’re not coming, we’re not ever having dinner together.”

And in response on Tuesday, Neville put out a tweet jokingly asking if anyone fancied a dinner. Of course all his replies were Ronaldo related.

In the chat with Morgan, Ronaldo did describe two of his other teammates Roy Keane and Rio Ferdinand as "very good guys".

The pair have been much more supportive of Ronaldo than others and that brought a call out from Jamie Carragher upon hearing Ronaldo's comments.

Ronaldo requested the interview himself and did make valid points about the Glazers, who he says "don't care" about the club.

However, the fact he said he doesn't "have respect" for manager Erik ten Hag means it's unlikely he will play for United again.

United have said they will wait for the "full facts" before considering a response. Meanwhile, Ronaldo is on international duty with Portugal ahead of the World Cup but was involved in an awkward exchange with teammate Bruno Fernandes.

Featured Image Credit: Piers Morgan & Gary Neville

Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Gary Neville, Manchester United, Premier League

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

@joshlawless_