Ronaldo - I would wink again

Ballon d'Or winner defends past actions and praises Ferguson influence

By Rob Carragher   Last updated: 6th December 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Ronaldo - I would wink again

Ronaldo: Still pals with Rooney

If I had to do it again, I would do it again. I was defending my colours, my country. What I did was normal

Cristiano Ronaldo
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Cristiano Ronaldo has risked the wrath of the Manchester United faithful once again by stating that he does not regret the antics which saw his United teammate Wayne Rooney sent off when England met Portugal at the 2006 World Cup.

Ronaldo came under heavy criticism back in England for urging the referee to dismiss Rooney for his stamp on Ricardo Carvalho, before the winger delivered his infamous wink to the Portugal bench.

Yet, despite the huge controversy that surrounded the Portuguese when he arrived back in England, he insists that he would have no qualms in repeating his actions if it meant that his country would emerge victorious.

"If I had to do it again, I would do it again. I was defending my colours, my country. What I did was normal," Ronaldo told the Daily Star.

"When I came back to England after the World Cup there were a lot of people who booed me. That strengthened me. It was like a test of my character: I learned a lot from that story."

'I've become a winner'

Many onlookers demanded that Sir Alex Ferguson sell the Portuguese winger in the wake of the incident, but the United boss stood by his £12.24million signing, insisting that the former Sporting Lisbon star would ultimately prove his worth to the club.

Two years on and the Old Trafford outfit have lifted both the Premier League and Champions League trophies, thanks in great part to Ronaldo's 42 goals last season - a feat that saw him named as the Ballon d'Or winner last week.

And throughout this highly successful period in his career, it has been the support and guidance of Ferguson which has proved vital to the current success of the United star.

"I am a great professional today, thanks to him. It was him who took me from Sporting to Manchester," Ronaldo declared.

"His record speaks for itself. But most of all it's his personality. I love working with him.

"I've become a winner, and it was here with Alex Ferguson that I began to believe I could win the Ballon d'Or."