Cristiano Ronaldo denies calling Messi a 'Motherf*****'

CR7 and Lionel Messi at a joint press conference

Cristiano Ronaldo has refuted reports that his alleged nickname for Lionel Messi behind closed doors is 'motherf*****'.

The Real Madrid forward was accused of regularly referring to his Barcelona counterpart by the name in Guillem Balague's book, MESSI, but Ronaldo insists it is untrue.

'News is circulating that I allegedly made offending remarks regarding Lionel Messi,' the 29-year-old wrote on his official Facebook page. 

Ronaldo has distanced himself from claims that he calls Messi a 'Motherf***'

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 '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,' 

'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*****". 

Messi and CR7 are both exceptional players on the football pitch. and their rivalry is apparent

'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.'

Messi has joined up with his national side for the international games coming up this weekend

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 next 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. 

CR7 is also in training for Portugal ahead of their international games