‘REAL OFFER NOT ENOUGH’
REAL MADRID have offered Cristiano Ronaldo a staggering £28.5m annual contract to snub Manchester United. Ronaldo wants to leave Real Madrid over frustrations regarding tax fraud allegations in Spain, which he denies. The striker is reportedly unhappy with how Real have failed to give him financial assurances over the issue. Manchester United and PSG are said to be the two clubs capable of matching Ronaldo’s enormous wage demands. It was reported earlier this week that the Portugal international had asked for a £64m-a-season, five-year deal to remain in Madrid. But Real have offered him a deal much lower than those demands - even though the figures are still eye-watering. That is according to Spanish radio stations Cadena COPE. Ronaldo will be incentivised to continue his glittering career. the breakdown of those bonuses are as follows: £1.75m for winning the Champions League again, £1.32m for a La Liga title win, £880,000 for a Copa del Rey win, £880,000 apiece for being named the Best FIFA men’s player of the year, £880,000 for winning the Ballon d’Or and £423,000 for winning the la Liga golden boot. Real’s proposal would likely be accepted by another other footballer on the planet. But it may not be enough to keep Ronaldo. That’s because the deal still falls short of Lionel Messi’s £1.76m-a-week contract at Barcelona. However, Jose Mourinho would supposedly prefer to sign Gareth Bale this summer. But if Ronaldo demands an exit then Real may have to hold on to the Welsh wizard, despite his poor injury record in Spain. getting promoted - is by far my biggest achievement ever.”
It surpasses even Rotherham which was his previous best bit of escapology. “When I took over they were six points adrift and basically gone” [at the foot of the Championship] he remembers. Putting out that fire he regards as the turning point in his career and one that renewed his appetite for football.
He had actually quit the game to look after his wife Sharon when she developed breast cancer. But her recovery and a lessthan-distinguished stint doing the house chores led to his return.
Admitting that he felt unfairly typecast as a lower league manager with critics claiming he couldn’t do it at the top level, he said at Rotherham: “I’ve come here to show people.” Now he says: “It’s a bit like that at Cardiff but this will be my finale. I’ve always loved proving people wrong.”
It’s another trait he shares with his boss but now he thinks there’s a good chance of topping even last season – by keeping Cardiff up. “This is possibly the best chance I’ve had of building something.
“Whilst it would be a success to be fourth from the bottom next year, I’d like to think we could stabilise the club and look further than that. Like what Burnley have done.
“Our wage bill will be the lowest in the Premier League by a long way but if I can get a few of the right players in - we don’t want any prima donnas or big-time Charlies - I feel we can do it.
“We may not have the quality of the £40 to £50m players, but I don’t think they’ll have the quality that we have in the dressing room when things aren’t going well. They won’t have that togetherness. That’s important in whatever sport. If you’ve got that it’s amazing how that can get you the results you need. Miracles can happen.”
According to the bookies, a miracle is needed – Cardiff are odds-on to go straight back down. But in the hands of the game’s great escapologist and motivator, it’s one you wouldn’t bet against.