Real Madrid are convinced Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo can be worth HALF A BILLION POUNDS to the club. That is the real reason the Spanish giants are ready to spend £75million on the Manchester United superstar - to recapture the 'wow factor' that left the club when David Beckham went to the States.
Madrid are prepared to pay that world-record fee because his arrival would have a huge impact on sponsorship, sales and TV deals.
The Portugal winger, 23, is seen as the man to bring Champions League glory and bolster the image of unpopular president Ramon Calderon.
A Real source told The Sun: "The club want Cristiano for many reasons.
"The obvious one is that he is the best player in the world and Madrid is the biggest club in the world.
"But he would be a great commercial asset and he could be worth up to 600m (£480million) over a 10-year period.
"Beckham helped Real overtake United as the club with the highest proceeds.
Ronaldo could be the difference in the next five to 10 years." |