Robbie Williams has developed a reputation for his combative media presence along with his wide array of pop bangers, and the star didn't mince words when discussing Blur frontman Damon Albarn.

Earlier this year, Albarn become embroiled in a row with Taylor Swift after he claimed the American star "didn't write her own songs," and Williams offered his two cents on the row.

In an interview with NME ahead of his new album, Williams said of the feud "I think that when people say that, what they’re actually doing is having a wank about themselves - it’s true!"

"You know, it’s like, why don’t you cut the middle man out – just get a few ribs removed and give yourself a nosh, you twat! Because all you’re doing is going, ‘Hey, I’m fucking amazing!’ Nothing good comes from it in any way, other than it’s a sort of dopamine hit for themselves, going, ‘Do you know – I’m a real one.’ OK. Good for you. Fuck off.”

Williams is unorthodox in the music sphere by co-writing the majority of his songs, and said his writing style was similar to fellow controversy magnet Morrisey.

"If you break down the maths of what I’m doing musically on a song, I do the same thing that Morrissey does."

"I’m not saying in any way, shape or form that I’m as good as or better than Morrissey, I’m just saying: I do the same thing. He sings to melody and puts a lyric to it. Same with Elton John – he does it the other way around. It’s only annoying when there’s disrespect brought to it. I’m not bothered, but if it’s levelled against me that I don’t [write] or it’s ‘his songwriters’, then I’m like, ‘Fuck you’.”

Williams reflected on coming to prominence in the indie versus pop era, and over 20 years later, the 'Rock DJ' hitmaker discussed what is was like to be in the middle of the storm.

"I grew up in a time where that was never more prevalent, that sort of militant indie-ness: them against us. And by them against “us” I mean indie people against pop people, not pop people against indie people. ‘Cause it’s just like, ‘We’re just tryna have some fun!’".

Williams is gearing up to go on tour, including dates in Dublin's 3Arena to promote 'XXV', an album that reworks some of his biggest hits from over the years.

Speaking about 'XXV', Williams said "to be honest, all I thought about was: ‘Fuck me – that’s 25 tracks I’ve gotta sing in the next two weeks!"

Williams turned his attention to Harry Styles, perhaps the most successful version of the former boyband member turned international pop superstar.

Williams said he has a fondness of Harry Styles, and said he saw a lot of similarities between himself and the 'As It Was' singer.

“Something came up on my YouTube algorithm and I watched him talking in between one of his songs,” he told NME.

"It was a throwaway thing – nothing exceptional, nothing out of the ordinary – but the way he phrased what he was saying reminded me completely of me. I just thought: ‘That’s me, that is!’ Just wittering on, trying to fill a space and trying to entertain.”

The former Take That man will be getting the Netflix documentary treatment in 2023, and you can catch the 'Feel' star in action at the 3Arena this October.