In October last year, when reports started going around that Manchester United is interested in getting back the services of Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid, the Portuguese football star’s agent Jorge Mendes said that it would require a huge amount of no less than £785 million (or $1.2 billion).
Some three months later, and after Cristiano Ronaldo was named the best football player in the world for the third time in his career at Fifa Ballon d’Or gala last month, his agent has made an updated pronouncement about the cost of getting his prized ward from his current contract with Real Madrid, reports Goal.com.
Jorge Mendes reveals that the cost of getting Ronaldo from Real Madrid is now at a staggering £1 billion ($1.5 billion)
The agent says that Ronaldo is justifiably the most expensive football player in the world because he is the best player there is. He even said that the Portuguese superstar is also the best sportsman ever and he is comparable to no one.
Still interested?
Manchester United appears to be interested in pursuing Ronaldo and getting him back to the English premier league from La Liga. Although Manchester United is capable of paying Ronaldo that much, it would be counter-productive for the team in the long-run as it would mean that it has to shed off some of its key players in the process.
Jorge Mendes also said that Ronaldo loves Manchester United supporters because he started his career there but his ward would not leave Real Madrid.
The agent also disclosed that several football clubs are actually willing to pay as much as £300 million for Ronaldo, which is more than three times the current £86 million world buyout record fee, which Real Madrid also paid for Gareth Bale, the 29-year-old Portuguese star would most likely refuse the offer and would opt to stay with the Spanish football team.
Mendes said that Ronaldo’s buyout clause is £1 billion and it would be impossible to buy him from Real Madrid. He added that if for some reason Real Madrid decides to sell his contract tomorrow at £300 million, a team will surely pay and get him into its fold.
Still impresses English fans
Ronaldo has been in superb scoring form in the current campaign of Real Madrid in La Liga, scoring 36 goals in 31 appearances. And that continues to impress English fans to no end.
Mendes says that Ronaldo has the affection of Manchester United because his heart was there for six years and he has a lot of respect for the people that show him affection. But he is with his club and his Real Madrid fans until death.
Ronaldo left Manchester United in 2009 to sign a world record deal of £80 million ($128.7 million) with Real Madrid.
There’s certainly plenty of mileage left on the tank of Cristiano Ronaldo to continue his run as one of the best, if not the best football player in the world today.