United hope mega deal will frighten off Real Madrid
MANCHESTER UNITED are to offer Cristiano Ronaldo an incredible new recession-busting deal which will make him the Premier League's first £200,000-A-WEEK player.
United hope the record £10.4million- a-year contract will stop the Portuguese winger from joining Real Madrid.
Ronaldo still three years left on his existing £120,000-a-week deal but a FIFA ruling means he can buy himself out of his contract at the end of next season.
So as United began preparing for this afternoon's Carling Cup Final against Spurs at Wembley, Old Trafford chiefs started plans to offer him a basic weekly wage of £160,000 - plus an extra £40,000 for image rights and commercial activities to keep him out of the Spanish champions' clutches.
Spanish sources claim Ronaldo has a verbal agreement to move to Real this summer. But United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insisted: "There is no question of Ronaldo leaving."
Ambitions
And a Portuguese source close to the player added: "Cristiano wants to clear his head of the Real Madrid move once and for all. When he agreed to stay at United last summer he thought it would be just for one more year.
"But now he seems to be setting his mind on the long term because he realises he can fulfil all his ambitions at Old Trafford."
The new offer will add another two years to his existing agreement which expires in 2012. And that will tie the reigning World Player of the Year to the Premier League and European champions until 2014.
It will also dwarf team-mate Wayne Rooney's £115,000-a-week wages, England skipper John Terry's £135,000 at Chelsea, Robinho's £160,000 at Manchester City and Steven Gerrard's £120,000 at Liverpool.
Away from Ronaldo, Manchester United and Real Madrid are locked in a bidding war for Wigan winger Antonio Valencia. And that could push the price for the Ecuador international, 23, past the £20million mark.
Madrid made a £17m bid during the January transfer window but that was rejected by Steve Bruce.
United boss Ferguson has asked his former defender Bruce to give him first option on Valencia - and will make his formal move during the summer.
Fergie is determined not to be outbid by the Spanish giants, for whom he developed a fierce hatred over the Ronaldo saga.
United and Madrid are both also chasing Lyon striker Karim Benzema while reports in Germany claim the two clubs have declared an interest in Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez.
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This article has 34 comments
i am a united fan, c ronaldo deserve that amount as a footballer look at david beckham he earn more than ronaldo.
By Wellington eborieme.. Posted March 10 2009 at 10:46 AM.
theres only one ronaldo
ronaldo,ronaldo,ronaldo
u see him on the pich running about
u see him on the floor in stiches when hes messing about
i love ronaldo hes the best in the world
so theres only one RONALDO
i love you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
By charlotte.. Posted March 5 2009 at 10:47 AM.
my god!
By du.. Posted March 4 2009 at 12:22 PM.
I think that's a World Player of The Year, European Footballer of The Year, Anybody But Real wage packet bonus. Well earned. They would have to pay some other big name superstar a huge transfer fee anyways, and then wait a couple months for him to figure out the system, how to play with other big name superstars, and then after all that, could be a dud in Premier League. See Juan Sebastian Veron.
By spanky.. Posted March 3 2009 at 11:38 PM.
stephen you have clearly lost the plot
By rod.. Posted March 2 2009 at 6:55 PM.
I am not a Utd fan...but do posters here realize that they have a turnover in excess of 250 m of which they spend under 100mn on players wages(the normal rate in sports is around 60% of turnover)...what would people rather have players making a "decent" wage and owners pocketing the entire profits??
By red.. Posted March 2 2009 at 6:01 AM.
Its not just football any more...its a business, hats of to Ronaldo for having excellant advisors... he has played a brilliant game off field by pitting Manu and Real Madrid against each other and is quietly walking of with all the spoils, yup perhaps in the long run its not worth it, but wy should i care when its not my money going into Manu coffers.......
By Vik.. Posted March 2 2009 at 4:58 AM.
He's simply getting the market rate for the work that he does. All the comparisons with doctors, teachers, etc. are just nonsense. They chose to go into public service with the salary their job commands - he chose to dedicate himself to his sport which also happens to be a multi-billion pound industry. I'm glad the players get their fair share of the spoils - I'd much rather that than see that money go into the hands of broadcasters, owners, agents of any other parasitic hangers-on (which is what a salary cap would actually mean). If you don’t like it, don’t go to the games, don’t subscribe to Sky or Setanta and don’t buy the merchandise – unlike public servants, many of whom arguably don't merit their own salaries, nobody is forcing you to contribute towards his.
By zz.. Posted March 1 2009 at 6:25 PM.
Dont tell me he doesnt deserve? well what about Becks ? he earns more than Ronaldo and plays god knows in what league (America) but now in Italian league. Ronaldo best player in the world, brings trophies and revenue to the club
By jig.. Posted March 1 2009 at 4:08 PM.
oink oink
By james Bere.. Posted March 1 2009 at 4:18 PM.
Come OFF IT ! Who really pays his wages ?? The stupid fanatics who watch him try to kick balls.For this price is insane.WAKE UP !! United fans or you will be all in the RED !!!
By Delboy.. Posted March 1 2009 at 3:52 PM.
What an absurd salary for someone kicking a ball.
Whilst there are other more deserving people out there working & building a better community.
By Giovanna.. Posted March 1 2009 at 2:58 PM.
This is now getting ridiculous.
This guy must be laughing behind their backs.
By Bonnieb.. Posted March 1 2009 at 2:31 PM.
RICH! RICH! RICH!
By max.. Posted March 1 2009 at 12:52 PM.
Just think how much tax he pays every week
the skill he brings to the premier league,and most
of all the trophies to OLD TRAFORD!!!!!!
By Stephen.. Posted March 1 2009 at 11:42 AM.
this the most stupid thing ever.footballers do not value money. you can get the most skilled craftsman only earning about £20,000 a year. that is maybe a lot happier than.money mad footballers.
By cguilliatt.. Posted March 1 2009 at 11:41 AM.
My son likes Ronaldo as a player, but i just think he's full of himself. He just seems to dive a hell of a lot and in my opinion is definitely not worth the money he's getting.ps i think jim benzie is right and he hung like a horse!
By wendy mckendrick.. Posted March 1 2009 at 10:28 AM.
why offer him more money when he said he was happy at man u last week,just shows man u know that he is on his way.as for best player in world,u are joking all he does is dive about.messi and kaka must have a right laugh at this muppet,he should stick to his sunbeds the muppet!!
By jim benzie.. Posted March 1 2009 at 9:16 AM.
How much do you reckon Brad Pitt got paid for Benjamin Button, £8m....£10m for HOW MANY months work. I stopped going to United last year after 25 years, it isnt going to be my money anymore that pays these wages so I dont care how much they pay him. If you feel that strongly about it stop going, its suprising how quickly you stop missing it
By Stuart Smith.. Posted March 1 2009 at 8:55 AM.
no wonder no one has value of money nowadays when a club wants to give a nancy boy 200k a week for kicking a ball about each week its obscene
By angie lismanis.. Posted March 1 2009 at 8:41 AM.
and there was me thinkin it was just mcfc ruining football
By bluemoon62.. Posted March 1 2009 at 8:33 AM.
whats everyones problem? man utd are successful, they have a huge turnover per year with profit so if they can afford to pay their top stars this huge amount of money then so be it!! if they didnt have these players and were in the lower part of the division then they wouldnt be winning anything, they wouldnt be attracting the support they have which generates cost. therefore these players win trophies and get fans in through the gates.
i would rather give it to these talented players who deserve it than any of these fat cat bankers who have gotten the country into a right mess.
By kenneth.. Posted March 1 2009 at 8:25 AM.
it was only a few weeks ago fergie was complaiing about man city offering the big star cant remember his name 200,000 grand a week,saying it was football gone mad
so tell me fergie why do u wanna do the same
bit 2 faced!!!!!
about time they capped wages,its the fans that get hit in the long run,watch out for big season ticket hikes at old trafford if it does happen
ridiclous
By phil.. Posted March 1 2009 at 8:22 AM.
You can't blame Ronaldo, or any other footballer for that matter, for earning ridiculous sums of money. If your boss offered you 200k a week what would you say? I somehow doubt you'd turn around and say "No thanks, just give me £500per week as there is a credit crunch on!"
Football is now big business and alway will be, its never going to get back to what it was like in the "old days" and people that feel that way need to move on.
By Tommy Arnold.. Posted March 1 2009 at 8:00 AM.
Pandering to a nancy boy like him shows manure have no class! They deserve each other! LOL
By Norwegian Gunn.. Posted March 1 2009 at 7:48 AM.
He deserves it because he is the best in is job!
but doctors, cientists, policemen fireman teachers of any kind and the Bin man also deserve more.
Love him to stay at united
By carlos santos.. Posted March 1 2009 at 6:45 AM.
This is getting all rather stupid now - its absolutely disgusting amounts of money these prima donnas are getting. Havent these clubs ever heard of the credit crunch?
By Sue.. Posted March 1 2009 at 5:57 AM.
i don't think there is anything wrong with this, he is the best footballer in the world, and he carries on preforming like the way he has helping man utd winning on the big stage, it perfect! its a great investment on Man Utds part.
By john.. Posted March 1 2009 at 5:47 AM.
Without TV money they would struggle to pay any of these prima donors £5,000 a week.The takings at the gate does not cover use of the ground and the backroom staff. Wake up boys your dream will soon end.
The bubble will burst and they will have to be human again.
By Peter077.. Posted March 1 2009 at 4:58 AM.
totally agree billy its gettin stupid money no love 4 the game blinded by the £signs
By UNITED4LIFE!!!!!!!!.. Posted March 1 2009 at 4:49 AM.
well. actors get paid vast sums of money to act. so its only fair that the bigist actor in football history gets the same. he should be blody well ashamed of him self
By scotty.. Posted March 1 2009 at 4:41 AM.
It's all getting out of hand the money they are offering players. I just wonder what players like Pele,Denis Law,Bobby Charlton, George Best and a lot more players who were far better players than any playing today, who played for the love of the game and were honest. Not like the ones today who are out to cheat the Refs. and all who pay hard earned money to watch them.
By Billy Shearer.. Posted March 1 2009 at 3:16 AM.
200k a week. No wonder why the world is in a state, footballers have become to greedy and the clubs have certainly helped them in that direction. The cost of a seat has now gone way passed inflation. Sad so sad that our national game has become one great big business, managers get fired for only achieving second in table, or only winning one piece of silverware.
By Barry.. Posted March 1 2009 at 1:51 AM.
and people says man city are ruining the game with money lmao
By kev.. Posted March 1 2009 at 12:06 AM.