Cristiano Ronaldo mulls leaving Manchester United for Real Madrid

The Portuguese forward for Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo, is not happy with the salary promised by the leadership of the English club, and is thinking of Real Madrid, the Spanish daily Marca reported yesterday.

Ronaldo who was selected best player of the English Premier League and authored 38 goals this season, is still awaiting word from Manchester United to uphold its promise of paying him a net annual salary of 13 million euros, which would make him the highest paid footballer in the world.

A clear favourite for the Golden Ball 2008, the 23-year-old Ronaldo, who renewed his contract with Manchester up to 2012, would reportedly consider leaving the English club if the situation persists, the daily said without quoting any sources.

Real Madrid is reportedly prepared to pay in transfer fees for Ronaldo even more than the record payment for Frenchman Zinedine Zidane seven years ago (75 million euros).

If Manchester does not want to sell, the player, whose agent is in contact with Real Madrid bosses, would be the one to apply pressure to the club to leave.

The "white" president, Ramón Calderón, was quoted as saying in April that his club is interested in Ronaldo, "one of those men one always wants to have" but added that "Manchester is not a selling club."



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File photo of Cristiano Ronaldo with an Indian fan.