Manchester United Transfer News: Cristiano Ronaldo Agent Sets €1 Billion Fee

Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes has told any potential Cristiano Ronaldo suitors that it will cost €1 billion to lure him from Real Madrid.

Mendes, who helped bring Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao to Manchester United during the summer, continues to indicate that the former Red Devils hero won't be returning home. He detailed a buyout clause of £785 million, saying, "The price is that stated in his release clause - €1 billion," per ESPN.

The super agent continued: "United are in his heart and he is very respectful of people who show him affection but he is in Madrid to the end."

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Mendes previously spoke in an interview with Spanish television show Elpartidodelas12, reported by Mundo Deportivo and via Dave Wood of the Daily Mail, where he suggested it would be "impossible" for any side to coax Ronaldo away from the Bernabeu. Confirmation of the Portuguese star's buyout clause highlights why.

Sky Sports' Guillem Balague kicked Ronaldo rumours into overdrive when writing, "United have got all the finances in place to get him." If Mendes' number proves true, odds are United wouldn't come anywhere near affording the No. 7, particularly because he would likely be the wrong side of 30 before any move would go ahead.

Although an impossible transfer anyway, the limitations of Financial Fair Play ensure United couldn't dream of signing Ronaldo at that price. They would undoubtedly make plenty of cash from shirt sales, additional sponsors and whatnot, but attempting to break even at €1 billion—before any other costs are counted—would be financial suicide.

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It's even more ludicrous to think this number could pay off United's £350 million debt twice over and with money to spare, per Richard Jolly of ESPN FC.

Ronaldo is undoubtedly an all-time great, and his goalscoring record speaks for itself (13 in six La Liga matches this season, per WhoScored.com). However, his recent spate of fitness problems could considerably slow him down in the coming years. This is a player who has already admitted he "forced" himself through injury at the end of last season, as reported by ESPN.

Despite his obvious problems, Ronaldo should be considered favourite for the 2014 Ballon d'Or, per Nicholas Rigg of ESPN FC:

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The 29-year-old is the man of the moment and although the award runs over the calendar year, current form plays a crucial part in swaying the floating voter and the former Manchester United man is the best player on the planet.

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Even so, dropping a fee that would be almost nine times that of the current world transfer record just isn't an idea that can be entertained. Considering Ronaldo's wages would also be added to the total, it's clear Mendes and Madrid will try to price him out of a move anywhere.

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Whether the agent is being sincere, though, remains a subplot which could develop in United's favour. Should Ronaldo harbour wishes to move, this buyout clause would likely become obsolete.

Madrid have a massive €600 million debt to pay off, per Jolly, but a serious bid below the aforementioned price might tempt Florentino Perez into cashing in. He is unlikely to raise these kinds of funds from a single player other than Ronaldo.

Ronaldo's value will only hold for the next couple of years. Mendes receives a healthy cut of any transfer fee involved, so it's in his best interests to secure a move before age kills Ronaldo's worth. The €1 billion valuation could be posturing, or it could be a convoluted way of telling United to back off; either way, it's an unfeasible sum which would amount to over a third of United's entire club worth.