Cristiano Ronaldo delighted Real Madridfans bysigning a lucrative contract extension with the La Liga giants on Monday, tying player and club together until 2021, when the forwardwill be 36.
However, according toMarca,the negotiations between the player's representative, Jorge Mendes, and the Real hierarchyhad been especially protracted, with the Portuguese forward negotiating hard to get the best deal in whathe claims will be hispenultimate contractas a professional footballer.
New wheels, same results. 💯👌 #Mercurial
New boots 👀 👉 https://t.co/E2zLOUFGP6 pic.twitter.com/tgSIWDQU2z
Allegedly, one such demand ofPresident Florentino Perez was that Ronaldo should be paid half a million euros more per year than long-term rival and Ballon d'Or winnerLionel Messi.
Reports differ as to the exact annual figure that the former Manchester United man will be raking in, withthe Sunputting the figure at a whopping £500,000 per week.
However, with Messi set to sit down with the Barcelona chiefs imminently to discuss his own contract extension, it seems quite possible that the Argentine superstar could leapfrog Ronaldo once again to become the world's highest paid player.
Ronaldo has five goals so far in La Liga. His Real side currently sit top of the table, two points clear of nearest challengers Barcelona, ahead of the Madrid derby.