Wayne Rooney criticizes Cristiano Ronaldo's conduct with Portugal

Wayne Rooney, the former Manchester United star, has renewed his criticism of ex-teammate Cristiano Ronaldo following controversy over the Portugal captain's departure from the national team camp during the recent international break.

Rooney said Ronaldo is not handling this stage of his international career appropriately, adding that his actions went beyond a normal disagreement between a player and the coaching staff.

Ronaldo's exit from the Portugal camp sparked widespread debate, with reactions continuing to pour in. Appearing on the "Stick to United" program, Rooney said: "Undermining the coach and teammates in the way he did is completely wrong."

Rooney added that Ronaldo's attempt to publicly influence the Portugal coach's statements was not right from a footballing perspective, stressing: "You can't tell the coach what to say. This goes beyond anything I've seen before."

Rooney: It's time for everyone to retire from international football

In his strongest remarks, Rooney said Ronaldo's future with Portugal is more about struggling to accept the end of his international career than a simple dispute with the coach. He said: "There comes a time when every player has to leave international football. It happens to everyone, and unfortunately, he's not handling it well. It's uncomfortable to watch."