Source: Telegraph
Cristiano Ronaldo transfer: Q?A of £80m deal between Real Madrid and Manchester United
How did the news break? At around 9.30am on Thursday morning Manchester United released a statement on their official website that read: 'Manchester United have received a world-record, unconditional offer of £80 million for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid. [LNB]'At Cristiano's request – who has again expressed his desire to leave – and after discussion with the player's representatives, United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player. [LNB] Related ArticlesRonaldo: I've had my time at United'Ronaldo deal struck six months ago'Ronaldo set to earn £556k-a-weekUnited v Real: What Ronaldo said£160m bonus music to Glazers' earsFerguson's £80m targetsHow was the deal done? At 6pm on Wednesday Real faxed an official offer to United with the figure 94,000,000 euros on it. United chief executive David Gill was informed. He in turn called Sir Alex Ferguson, who is on holiday, to get his blessing before informing the Glazer family, who own the club. When all parties were happy the offer was accepted. [LNB]It's been going on for longer than that though, right? Much longer. Real have been chasing Ronaldo for years and, despite publicly saying he wasn't for sale, United struck a gentlemen's agreement – nothing was signed – with the player and his agent Jorge Mendes, last summer that if Ronaldo stayed for another season he could leave the following year, should Real match United's valuation. [LNB]How much is the deal worth? Less than a week after breaking the transfer record by paying £59 million for Kaka from AC Milan, Real smashed it again in offering £80 million for Ronaldo. [LNB]How much will Ronaldo be paid? More than £106 million across his six-year contract, should he complete it. The Portuguese will earn £9.5 million in his first year – £183,000 a week – followed by a 25 per cent pay rise in each of the following five years of his contract. This would amount to £556,000 a week in the final year of his contract. The rest of the projected total comes from his share of image rights. [LNB]When will it be completed? United have set a deadline of June 30 to have everything tied up and, despite being on holiday in the US, Ronaldo is currently in talks with the club over personal terms. Should all be finalised early next week. [LNB]Who will United buy now? The sale of Fraizer Campbell to Hull City and the probable departure of Nani, added to the £30 million Ferguson would have been given anyway this summer means the Scot is now sat on a war chest of around £120 million. Wigan's Antonio Valencia, who will cost around £15m, has already been lined up as a replacement for Ronaldo as a wide player while moves to lure Franck Ribery from Bayern Munich are already afoot, too, though he will be closer to £50m. [LNB]Ferguson will finally be able to land his long term target of Karim Benzema of Lyon while the possibility of Carlos Tevez being offered a permanent contract have increased with Ronaldo's departure. [LNB]Is that the end of Real Madrid's spending? Maybe, maybe not. Florentino Perez's 'galacticos' project, the sequel, appears to have an even more monstrous budget than the one before. Liverpool's Xabi Alonso is on his wish-list, as is Ribery. Despite debts of around 500 million euros, Perez has indicated the summer's spending could top the 200 million mark. A couple of defenders might not go amiss, but then that's not really his style is it? [LNB]Who's saying what?[LNB]Cristiano Ronaldo: 'It's flattering when two of the top teams in the world want you to play for them, but I have had my time at Manchester United. Now I can look forward to Real Madrid and a new stage in my career. I learned about the deal here in Los Angeles and have heard from my people that Manchester United have accepted. I am on vacation and will remain in Los Angeles for a bit more, but the deal is historic. £80 million is quite a sum of money.' [LNB]Ramon Calderón: 'Let's say it was a gentlemen's agreement in order not to bother Manchester last season, because (United manager, Sir Alex) Ferguson also wanted to keep the player. For this reason we decided to wait until this season and that is what has happened.' [LNB]'I did whatever I could to have Ronaldo at Real Madrid this next season. That was the important thing to do. I did my best. I think it was OK to do that, to talk to him and try to convince him it was the best solution for his future. That's all. I don't mind that someone else is going to present him. That's not important. The important thing is Real Madrid. I've been working for this club and I'm very happy he's definitely here.' [LNB]The Glazer family: 'The decision reflects Cristiano's desire to move on after six years of distinguished service for the club during which time he has won everything, and the manager has accepted his decision. The Glazer family, as owners, have always supported the manager consistently since their takeover of the club and that is again the situation in this case.'[LNB]
