The Independent newspaper are reporting that Monaco are ready to make a world record €100m (£85m) bid for Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo has just two years left on his contract at Madrid and has made it known that is not happy at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Monaco are owned by Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, and Monaco believe that making Ronaldo the highest paid player in the world on €20m (£17m) net per year will make him happy. That equates to nearly £330,000 per week. Since Monaco does not charge its residents income tax, Ronaldo’s wages would make him the highest-paid footballer in the world.
The tax free environment in Monaco gives them a huge advantage over Ligue 1 rivals PSG, who have been also linked with a move for Ronaldo. For Paris Saint-Germain to match Monaco’s record breaking offer to Ronaldo, it would cost them a mouth-watering €80m because they are subject to France’s 75% income tax.
Monaco are watching the stalemate between Ronaldo and Real Madrid on a new contract and reportedly if no deal is done by late July or August they will make their move.
The unknown factor in Monaco’s bid is the relationship between Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes and the Ligue 1 side. This summer Monaco have already spent more than £100m on players, Porto pair Rodriguez and Moutinho and Falcao, who are all Mendes clients.
Will Mendes steer Ronaldo to Monaco as he has with his other clients this summer or does he have another destination in mind for the Real Madrid striker? Maybe Manchester United?