Gary Neville mocks Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive interview with well-timed tweet

Gary Neville poked fun at Cristiano Ronaldo’s interview with Piers Morgan by urging his Twitter following to watch Salford City instead.

The first part of Ronaldo’s bombshell chat was broadcasted on TalkTV at 8pm on Wednesday night, with the Portuguese star giving both barrels to Manchester United for ‘betraying him.’

Ronaldo also took aim at Neville during the chat after the Sky Sports pundit criticised his form for United this season.

Cristiano Ronaldo accused former Manchester United team-mate Gary Neville of using him to boost his own profile on television through critical comments

Gary Neville posted a funny tweet urging his followers to watch Salford City’s FA Cup tie instead of the bombshell Cristiano Ronaldo interview with Piers Morgan

The 37-year-old accused former team-mate Neville of using him to boost his own profile – before declaring the pair were not friends.

It came after Ronaldo recently blanked Neville as he stood pitchside on television duties as a result of the criticism.

Ronaldo told Morgan: ‘To listen as ex-colleagues or team-mates criticise you, when they only see one point of view.

‘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.

‘It’s hard when you see people who was in the dressing room with you criticising that way.’

On Wednesday night, Neville posted a craftily-timed tweet at 7.34pm – 26 minutes before the start of the Ronaldo interview – that read: ‘Tune in to a ‘World Exclusive’ at 8pm tonight. Salford City vs Peterborough in the FACUP on ITV4 channel 120.’

Ronaldo (left) launched a scathing attack on both his former United team-mates during his bombshell interview with Piers Morgan (right) on Talk TV

Ronaldo snubbed Neville when entering the pitch at Old Trafford a matter of weeks ago

Neville may have regretted the post because the League Two club he co-owns with his fellow Class of 92 graduates were smashed 3-0 by their League One opponents, who reached the second round.

Ronaldo had gone on to vent his frustration further at the criticism from Neville and his former United strike partner Wayne Rooney.

‘Me too (I’m surprised about this). Piers, I don’t understand. You should ask the questions to him [Rooney],’ he said. ‘I don’t know. I don’t know why he criticised me so badly.

‘Probably (it’s jealously). Probably – because he finished his career in his 30s. I’m still playing at a high level; I’m not going to say that I’m looking better than him, which is true.

Neville had been critical of Ronaldo for storming down the tunnel having refused to come off the bench in United’s game with Tottenham last month

Neville urged people to watch Salford, but they were well beaten 3-0 by Peterborough United

‘It’s hard to listen to that sort of criticism and negativity from people who play with you, for example Gary Neville as well.

‘People can have their own opinion but they don’t know what is going inside the training ground at Carrington – or even my life.

‘They shouldn’t listen to one point of view – they should listen to my point of view as well, because it’s easy to criticise [when] you don’t know the whole story.

‘They are not my friends, they are colleagues. We play together, they’re not coming, we’re not ever having dinner together.’ 

Neville had responded to these comments, which were trailed ahead of the main interview broadcast, by tweeting: ‘Anyone for dinner?’ 

Ronaldo made his feelings about Neville clear when he snubbed the Sky Sports pundit ahead of United’s Premier League clash with West Ham last month.

Ronaldo decided to ignore Neville after his former team-mate criticised him for storming down the tunnel during United’s win over Tottenham.

Neville said United would be ‘better without’ Ronaldo and that the Premier League giants should ‘end their relationship’ with him.

The 37-year-old went over to see his former team-mate Louis Saha – who was working on the panel for Sky Sports – ahead of United’s game with West Ham.

The Portuguese also said he was ‘surprised’ by the criticism of Wayne Rooney in recent weeks

Ronaldo embraced Saha before saying a quick hello to Jamie Redknapp. However, he bypassed Neville without saying a word.

After being blanked by the Portugal international, Neville said: ‘We’re off the Christmas card list aren’t we?’