“Ronaldo didn’t call Messi a 'motherf**ker'” but Robben calls them both “monsters”

Real Madrid forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, has denied in strong terms that he uses a contemptible nickname for his greatest rival, Lionel Messi, and has vowed to sue perpetuators of the report.

Spanish journalist, Guillem Balague, had in a new book, claimed that Ronaldo referred to the Barcelona player-maker as 'motherf**ker'.

Balague also claimed that his Real Madrid team-mates compare Messi to a "dog" and a "puppet".

But Ronaldo, denying th allegation, wrote on his Facebook page: “News is circulating that I allegedly made offending remarks regarding Lionel Messi,"

“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"

Meanwhile, reacting to his inclusion in the 23-man shortlist for the 2014 Ballon d'Or, which also has Ronaldo and Messi competing, Dutchman, Arjen Robben has described the duo as “monsters” and “above everyone else”

He told France Football: “It's great to be recognised and I'm proud to be on the shortlist, but it's never been an obsession for me and it never will be, because what I care about are team trophies," Robben told France Football.

"I don't like comparing myself to others, but you are talking about two monsters! They have succeeded for half a dozen years beyond reality. They are above everyone else."