Ronaldo completes record transfer to Real Madrid
MADRID (Reuters) - Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo completed his 80 million pound ($130 million) world record transfer to Real Madrid on Friday, signing a six-year deal with the Primera Liga club.
"Real Madrid and Manchester United have signed the final agreement for the transfer of the rights of the player Cristiano Ronaldo effective July 1," Real said on their website (www.realmadrid.com).
"The player will remain at Real Madrid for the next six seasons and will be presented on July 6 at the Bernabeu stadium," the statement said.
Portugal international Ronaldo, the World Footballer of the Year, becomes the third confirmed signing under new Real president Florentino Perez, who has returned to the club pledging to create a "spectacular sporting project".
Perez spent around 67 million euros ($93 million) on AC Milan's Brazilian playmaker Kaka and has also brought in Spain defender Raul Albiol from Valencia for a reported fee of 15 million euros.
Real and Ronaldo's representatives had been negotiating personal terms since United announced this month they had accepted the Madrid club's offer.
There were no details of the agreement in the Real statement. Spanish media have reported that Ronaldo will earn around 13 million euros per season.
(To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
© Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved
Dubai Debt Fears
Banks outside the Gulf played down their exposure to Dubai debt, after fears the emirate could default and even derail world economic recovery prompted a sell-off in global markets. Full Article | Slideshow










