Cristiano Ronaldo tells Mario Balotelli to 'speak less and play more'

Balotelli claimed Wayne Rooney was not the best player in Manchester (GETTY IMAGES)

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has told Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli he should "speak less and play more".

Balotelli joined City from Inter Milan last summer and recently made headlines in the press by declaring Manchester United's Wayne Rooney was not the best player in Manchester.

When asked about the 20-year-old Italy international, former Manchester United star Ronaldo said to Gazzetta dello Sport: "He is a good player but he has to speak less and play more.

"In the Premier League, if he knows how to listen and wants to learn, he could become a great player. I hope he achieves that.

"However, today he puts many other things ahead of his career and this is not good."