Source : Mirror.co.uk
Crstiano Ronaldo has told friends that Manchester City would have to break the bank to get him.
Sunday Mirror Sport has learnt that the Real Madrid superstar is bragging to friends that he is wanted by City’s Abu Dhabi-based owner Sheikh Mansour as he strives to make the Blues football’s No.1 club.
Ronaldo has told confidantes in Manchester that someone connected to the Sheikh’s family has contacted him informally with a mindblowing package that is tempting the former Manchester United hero to move to Eastlands.
However, last night City insisted that no approach had been made by them or on their behalf.
Ronaldo has put together a list of astonishing demands if he was to return to England.
The Portuguese star told a friend:
He wants £400k a week.
The No.7 shirt and captain’s armband.
A guarantee that he will always be the club’s highest paid player.
The 26-year-old forward has claimed that City would have to pay Real a near 100 per cent profit on the £80million world record transfer fee they paid to United for him two years ago.
And Ronaldo believes that City would pay him a £350,000-a-week basic wage with a bonus and image rights package that would see his earnings soar even higher.
However, he wants £400,000 a week.
A source close to Ronaldo confirmed: “Cristiano says there has been contact between him and a third party. He says that he is extremely flattered at the lengths they’re willing to go to.
“He claimed that they will pay him what it takes to make him a Manchester City player.
“He says he wants £400k as taxes are higher in England.”
Ronaldo also claims that he was invited over to Abu Dhabi.
However, he did not go to the Middle East, but the source added he would want to become the captain and wear his favourite No.7 shirt.
Ronaldo also claimed he would want a guarantee that he would always be the club’s highest paid player.
His future at the Bernabeu has become uncertain in recent months.
United finally sold him to the Spanish giants in the summer of 2009 after years of speculation linking him to Real. But in two seasons, Madrid have been second best to bitter rivals Barcelona.
Ronaldo scored 53 goals last season – including the winner against Barca in the Copa del Rey final last month.
But that remains the only trophy he has won in the all-white kit of his boyhood idols.
Reports in Spain suggest that Ronaldo has become disillusioned with the tactics of Jose Mourinho and that Real were ready to cash in for £150m.
Only City would be able to meet such a valuation – but club officials were quick to dismiss claims of a move for Ronaldo last month.
Real Madrid took the unprecedented step of announcing: “There is no substance in these reports whatsoever.”
Ronaldo, himself, has previously insisted that the only team he would play for in England is United.
He still keeps in contact with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and calls the Reds boss his “football father.”
Becoming a City player while Ferguson is still in charge at Old Trafford would be a massive step for the star to take.
However, the figures being mentioned would turn any player’s head.
It would cost City a staggering £250million just to meet Real’s asking price and Ronaldo’s basic wage.
But Sheikh Mansour has an estimated personal fortune of £20billion and his family has assets of almost £600billion.