The mother of the 14-year-old autistic boy whose phone Cristiano Ronaldo broke has called the superstar "arrogant" and has threatened to sue him.

Last season, after Manchester United lost to Everton at Goodison Park, Ronaldo slapped Jacob Harding's hand as he sprinted down the tunnel, breaking the youngster's phone.

The 37-year-old apologized afterwards and was interviewed by police in relation to alleged assault and criminal damage before receiving a caution. 

Jacob's mother, Sarah Kelly, says that she declined the opportunity to meet Ronaldo after the incident but was then called on the phone by the Portuguese forward in a call that lasted 10 minutes in which he pleaded for sympathy. 

She told The Mirror: "He asked me if I would like to come down and meet his family." He said, "I'm not a bad dad." I said to him, "I never said you were a bad dad."

He said, "I had a terrible upbringing. I lost my dad." I said to him, "Everybody has a sob story, Ronaldo. I lost my dad too young. I've had cancer."

He kept calling me Jack and didn't even know my name, so I said, "My name is Sarah," and he said, "Oh, Sarah, I'm sorry."

He never referred to Jacob by his name either; it was always "the boy." "I know the boy's got problems," he said. I told him, "He hasn't got a problem, he has a disability." You're the one with the problem. "

Sarah described Ronaldo as the "most arrogant man I've ever spoken to" and felt that he had "got away with it".

The Merseyside mother plans to take legal action against the star and United.