£40m deal for Ronaldo
CRISTIANO RONALDO is set to sign a new
£40million deal with Manchester United. He will become the
highest-paid player in England on a massive £150,000 a week. The
Portuguese winger, 23, will put pen to paper on the five-year deal
before Euro 2008.
Ronaldo’s current contract had four years to run but
United want to stave off Real Madrid. A United source said: “This
will be the biggest contract in the club’s history. Given Ronaldo’s
achievements over the past two years, it’s easy to understand why.
“There is no doubt he is the best player in the world and we want
to make sure he is happy at United. There is only one place for him
and that is Old Trafford.”
Ronaldo, currently on £100,000 a week, is enjoying a
sensational season. He has scored 37 goals for United in all
competitions and is the hottest property in world football. The
news is a big boost for boss Alex Ferguson, whose troops face
Arsenal in tomorrow’s title clash.
Real were plotting a massive bid for Ronaldo in the
summer, while Barcelona and Inter Milan were also planning swoops.
Real technical director Pedja Mijatovic held a meeting with
Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes to reiterate the club’s desire to
capture the superstar. But Mendes made it clear to Madrid that
Ronaldo is set to stay at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo’s new deal will dwarf that of team-mate Wayne
Rooney on £112,000 a week. He leapfrogs the Chelsea quartet of
Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko — both on £130,000 a week —
and Frank Lampard £120,000 a week and John Terry, who is on
£135,000 a week.
But he has some way to go to match the biggest earners
in world sport. Tiger Woods pulls in £50m a year, boxer Oscar de la
Hoya earned £22m in 2007 and golfer Phil Mickelson was just behind
on £21m.
David Beckham’s pay at LA Galaxy is about £16m a year —
but he earns millions more in sponsorship deals.