Cristiano Ronaldo angrily smashing a child's phone shows that he still thinks he is 'God,' ex-Premier League player says

• Cristiano Ronaldo slapped the phone out of the hand of a 14-year-old fan after losing Saturday.
• One former Premier League player says the incident shows that Ronaldo thinks he is "God."

A former Premier League soccer player has said that Cristiano Ronaldo thinks "he is God" after the Portuguese star smashed a young fan's phone in anger.

The Portuguese striker slapped 14-year-old Everton supporter Jake Harding's phone from his hand after Manchester United's defeat to Everton on Saturday.

Harding was attempting to film Ronaldo as he left the field at the final whistle.

Sharing footage of the incident on Twitter, Jose Enrique — who played for Newcastle and Liverpool and retired in 2017 — said: "I always said it. Don't like him he believe is God and can do whatever he wants.

"That doesn't take that is been one of the best players in the history of football but as a person don't like him."

Following Saturday's incident, Harding's mother, Sarah Kelly, said that Ronaldo's slap had left her son with a bruised hand.

"He's an autistic boy and he's been assaulted by a football player — that's how I see it as a mum," she said.

Merseyside police confirmed Sunday that it was investigating an "alleged assault" on "a boy by one of the away team" and will speaking to all the parties involved, while Ronaldo posted a message on Instagram on Saturday evening apologizing for the outburst.

"It's never easy to deal with emotions in difficult moments such as the one we are facing," wrote the 37-year-old. "Nevertheless, we always have to be respectful, patient and set the example for all the youngsters who love the beautiful game.

"I would like to apologize for my outburst and, if possible, I would like to invite this supporter to watch a game at Old Trafford as a sign of fair-play and sportsmanship."

Kelly told the Echo Monday that Harding had declined Ronaldo's invitation to go to Old Trafford, while she also described his apology as "backhanded."

"If someone assaulted him in the street and then asked us to go around for dinner, we wouldn't. Just because he's Cristiano Ronaldo, why would we do it? It's like we owe him a favor, but I'm sorry, we don't," she said.

"We've kindly declined the offer to go to United because Jake doesn't want to go there and he doesn't want to see Ronaldo. He's made that pretty clear."