Ronaldo Mega Deal

We admit that it isn't the most trustworthy source for news, but the News of the World yesterday carried a story telling the world that Cristiano Ronaldo is about to become the highest earner in World Football!

Shevchenko will soon be looking anviously across at Ronny, who is set to take home an extra £40,000 A WEEK!

Cristiano is already speculated to earn almost £100,000 a week, and this latest contract is the latest effort by United to tie the player down, and ensure a massive transfer fee if he moves.

New contractual legislation means that once a player has served three years of their contract they are able to buy themselves out of the contract with a transfer fee equal to the rest of the wages payments on the contract. Ronaldo signed a 5 year deal a year ago, and could leave in 2010 for a fee of just £10M, despite being aged 25 and about to hit his peak on the World Stage!

Meanwhile, the Portuguese FA have been insisting that Manchester United is the right club for Ronaldo - and want him to snub Real Madrid and Barcelona's overtures for a move back to Portugal!

The president of the Portuguese FA, Gilberto Madail, declared: "It's logical that such clubs (Barca and Real) would be interested because he is an exceptional player. But I believe he is happy where he is - at least so far.

"In addition, he should be grateful to Manchester United and realise what this club has done for him as a footballer. Under (Sir Alex) Ferguson, Cristiano has grown as a man. He cannot forget that."

Madail added: "If one day he had to changes teams, I would like that he returned to Portugal."

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