Ronaldo by numbers

600 – Goals scored by Ronaldo for Sporting, Manchester United, Madrid and Portugal.

However, his Real contract is understood to have a one billion euros (£874 million) buy-out clause and, in May, Forbes calculated his pre-tax salary as being close to £45m a year.

Ronaldo has helped Real win the Champions League three times, scoring twice in last month’s final as they became the first club to retain the title and he only the second player to score in three different finals.

He is also the competition’s record goalscorer with 105.

He has also won two LaLiga titles with the club he joined from Manchester United for £80m in 2009.

Arch-rival Lionel Messi took a similar stance in threatening to quit Spain in 2014, also claiming he had been singled out for special treatment, when he was accused of concealing 4.1m euros (£3.5m) from the authorities.

The Argentine was found guilty and subsequently lost an appeal against a 21-month prison sentence – under Spanish law sentences under two years are usually suspended – and a 2.1m euro (£1.8m) fine.

Should Ronaldo depart the Bernabeu his list of potential destinations will include former club Manchester United – the Red Devils are predicting record revenues of up to £570m this year – as well as Paris St Germain and Chinese Super League and Major League Soccer sides, though the Portuguese will feel he has a lot more to offer at the very highest level.