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United could have Ronaldo back — for S$290 million

LONDON — Manchester United will have to fund a £140 million (S$290 million) package to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo next summer if they pursue a second attempt to lure the Real Madrid winger back to Old Trafford.

Ronaldo admitted last month that United was ‘like my second family’. 
Photo: AP

Ronaldo admitted last month that United was ‘like my second family’.
Photo: AP

LONDON — Manchester United will have to fund a £140 million (S$290 million) package to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo next summer if they pursue a second attempt to lure the Real Madrid winger back to Old Trafford.

This emerged after senior figures at Europe’s leading clubs were given notice of the player’s £380,000-a-week wage demands and the prospect of Real seeking a £60 million transfer fee for the 29-year-old.

With Ronaldo less than two years into a five-year contract at the Bernabeu, any potential bidder must also be prepared to sanction a four-year deal, worth approximately £19 million a year in wages.

United manager Louis van Gaal’s admission last week that the club would be interested in re-signing Ronaldo, five years after his £80 million transfer to Real, has fuelled speculation the European champions could offload the world footballer of the year at the end of this season.

Ronaldo’s fractious relationship with Real president Florentino Perez has become increasingly strained following his public disagreement with the decision to sell Angel di Maria and Xabi Alonso during the transfer window. There is now a growing sense within the game that Perez will consider selling Ronaldo next summer, while the Portugal captain has done little to dismiss the prospect of a return to United, admitting only last month that the club was “like my second family”.

“I love Manchester and you never know in football ... I am still in contact with some people there because I had a good relationship with everybody — it was like my second family,” he said.

United could have a clear run to signing Ronaldo with their most likely rivals for the player put off by the overall cost of the deal and potential of Ronaldo’s salary creating tension among team-mates.

Despite investing more than £150 million on signings this summer, United remain determined to add to their squad and have the funds to embark on further spending due to commercial deals with adidas and Chevrolet respectively.

With uncertainty over the futures of Juan Mata and Robin van Persie, the departure of either would unlock substantial funds to cover Ronaldo’s salary. THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

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