Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo believes the ill feeling he generated by the infamous wink he gave to club colleague Wayne Rooney as he was sent off at the 2006 World Cup made him a stronger person.

He is quoted as saying: "If I had to do it again, I would do it again.

"I was defending my colours, my country. What I did on the day was normal. When I came back to England after the World Cup, there were all these people booing me.

"That made me stronger. It was a test of my character and I learnt a lot because of this."