RONALDO CALLS MESSI A 'MOTHERF******K

Cristiano Ronaldo denies referring to Lionel Messi by 'motherf*****' nickname as Real Madrid star fights back over claims

• Cristiano Ronaldo has been accused of regularly referring to Lionel Messi as 'motherf*****' by Guillem Balague

• The Spanish football journalist claims Real Madrid players told him Ronaldo calls his Barcelona foe by the nickname

• Balague writes in his book that Real players 'have a long list of jokes that include Messi as Ronaldo’s dog or puppet'

• Ronaldo insists: 'I have the utmost respect for all my professional colleagues, and Messi is obviously no exception'

  



 'This is absolutely false and I have assured my lawyer takes action to sue those responsible." 

'I have the utmost respect for all my professional colleagues, and Messi is obviously no exception.'

Balague's book discusses the relationship between the two, insisting they are not friends but act politely in public for the benefit of the media.

The Spanish football journalist claims several players at the Bernabeu relayed the information to him, and that Ronaldo not only calls Messi by 'motherf*****' but also anyone who is caught speaking to his Ballon d'Or rival.

'Ronaldo, perhaps as a symptom of the immaturity that marks so many footballers, thinks it necessary to put on a brave face in front of his team-mates, not be scared of Messi and to rise to the challenge,' Balague writes in his book, serialised by The Telegraph. 

'All very macho; all very false. And that is why, according to some Real Madrid players, CR7 has a nickname for him: "motherf*****"; and if he sees someone from the club speaking to Leo, he also ends up being baptised "motherf*****". 

'In that environment, Ronaldo usually compares their relationship with that between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. 

'And the Madrid players, with their less than subtle dressing-room sense of humour, have a long list of jokes that include Messi as Ronaldo’s dog or puppet, or kept in a designer handbag belonging to the Portuguese player. And much worse.'

Ronaldo has been preparing for Portugal's Euro 2016 qualifying match against Armenia on Friday, while Messi was training at West Ham's Rush Green Stadium on Tuesday. The Barca star will be on show at Upton Park on Wednesday night for Argentina's friendly against Croatia.

Ronaldo and Messi are set to face each other this Tuesday when Portugal and Argentina play in a friendly at Old Trafford, giving the ex-United man the edge on his former stomping ground.

Elsewhere, the pair have become entangled in a race to break Raul's all-time Champions League goal record, which stands at 71.

Messi equalled the record with two goals against Ajax to bring him to 71 in 90 games, while Ronaldo has 70 in 111. The man from the Nou Camp is favourite to overtake Raul when Luis Enrique's team play Apoel Nicosia the night before Real face Basle towards the end of November. 

CREDITS: MAILONLINE/DAILYMAIL

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