adminLONDON. — Manchester United will have to fork out a staggering £200 million to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back home. And that has seen the rest of Europe’s top clubs decide the Real Madrid star — who turns 30 in February — is too expensive to consider.
Real president Florentino Perez looks likely to cash in on World Player of the Year Ronaldo next summer. And United have been left with a clear run to re-sign their former No. 7 after their major rivals collectively balked at the fee and wages sought by Real and Ronaldo’s representatives.
Manchester City, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are all out of the running to sign Ronaldo, leaving the way clear for United to move for him if they decide the astronomical figures stack up.
Ronaldo is currently on £380 000 a week and would command the same salary should he leave Real, who in turn will accept a minimum fee of £60 million for their prized asset.
With image-rights payments, loyalty bonuses paid out over the full length of his contract and other incentives, he could pocket a further £60 million.
Real paid the Old Trafford giants a then-world record fee of £80m for Ronaldo in 2009.
With the Portuguese forward commanding a four-year deal, a yearly wage of £19,76 million over that period – on top of the required transfer fee – would set United back a whopping £139,04 million.
But United’s huge commercial wealth, epitomised by their world-record £750 million, 10-year kit deal with Adidas, means they do have the financial clout to afford such a mega deal.
Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, made it clear in the summer of 2013 that his client felt unloved at Real and was willing to move, with United tempted by the prospect of a reunion. But the star’s posturing — which was seen largely as a ploy by Mendes to earn him a lucrative new deal – eventually forced Real to hand the player a five-year contract which runs to 2018.
Although United had no chance of signing Ronaldo in 2013 with David Moyes in charge, the landscape has since changed, with the appointment of Louis van Gaal as manager. — The Mirror.
Online Reporter