Manchester United Transfer News: Cristiano Ronaldo Will End Talk of Return

Manchester United’s dream of bringing global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford is nearly at an end after Carlo Ancelotti confidently predicted he will sign a new Real Madrid contract, reports Sky Sports via AS.

The prospect of Ronaldo’s United comeback recently emerged when Duncan Wright of the Daily Star claimed he was on the brink of a transfer, but Ancelotti is adamant the explosive forward will be a Madrid player next season:

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The player wants to renew his contract and the club want him to renew it too, so I don't think it's going to be a problem.

I think Cristiano and the club are relaxed about the issue. I don't know when it will happen, but I am certain that Cristiano is going to renew his contract with Madrid.

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Spanish daily Marca reports the new deal has already been agreed to in principle, with Ronaldo set to earn £75 million over five years. David Kent of the Daily Mail provides the details:

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Madrid-based newspaper Marca reports that Ronaldo will earn around £900,000 more each season than Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi, making him the highest-paid player in Spain.

The 28-year-old is believed to have struck a deal with Real to increase his share of his image rights, which previously stood at 60 percent.

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Ronaldo had actually fanned the flames surrounding rumours of his Premier League return. Per AS via talkSPORT, he did little to cement his Bernabeu future at a Sunday press conference, merely stating “the situation still hasn’t been resolved.”

It was claimed by the English press that United’s anticipated sale of Wayne Rooney, in addition to Madrid’s expected signing of Gareth Bale, would set up the ideal financial scenario for United to re-sign the 28-year-old.

Ronaldo won three Premier League titles, an FA Cup, two League Cups and a Champions League with United, whereas he only has one Liga crown and a Copa del Rey to his name in Spain.

Key to Madrid’s negotiations over an extension has been Ancelotti himself, who is prepared to give Ronaldo the freedom of the park this season. Largely deployed as a left-winger who moved from out to in under Jose Mourinho, it is expected that Ancelotti will give Ronaldo a more central role.

United’s own transfer focus, following failures to capture Cesc Fabregas and Ronaldo, as per EatSleepSport is now expected to turn to Everton’s Marouane Fellaini, who played under David Moyes last season.

The potential capture of Fellaini would represent an intriguing change of emphasis by Moyes, who seemingly favoured a ball-playing creative influence in Fabregas to fill the void left by the retirement of Paul Scholes. Fellaini, by contrast, would offer United greater physical authority in their midfield and—while he may prove a less-imaginative option than the Barcelona man—still had a hand in 17 Everton goals last season.