Man Utd to offer Cristiano Ronaldo pay rise - but not enough to be top dog at Old Trafford

Wayne Rooney (left) and Cristiano Ronaldo may be team-mates at Old Trafford next season

MANCHESTER UNITED want to sign Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo - but they won't make him their highest-paid player.

 

United manager Louis van Gaal earmarked Ronaldo, 30, as a target yesterday.

"With Ronaldo, let's wait and hope," he said.

"Ronaldo plays on the wings and he is fast and scores goals. There is no trainer in the world that doesn't like him.

"Of course we are looking at all players - not just Ronaldo."

 

United are expected to fork out a huge sum to bring the Portugal international back to Old Trafford - having sold him to Real in 2009 for £80million.

And the Mail on Sunday claim he will also be offered an eye-watering £250,000-a-week contract to play for United - £50,000 less than current captain Wayne Rooney.

Rooney, also 30, penned his new deal at Old Trafford last year and is contracted to the club until 2019.

 

Ronaldo failed to score in Real's 4-0 thumping at the hands of Barcelona yesterday but nevertheless boasts 13 goals in 18 appearances for club and country this season.

He has been named World Footballer of the Year three times and is on the Ballon d'Or list for 2015.

The striker earns €350,000 each week at the Bernabeu - around £245,000 a week with today's exchange rate - meaning he will get a £5,000 pay rise if he completes his transfer.