MADRID: Real Madrid have finally confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo has agreed a contract extension taking him through to 2018 and ending all wide-of-the-mark speculation over a move backwards to Manchester United.

The contract raises the 28-year-old’s basic annual salary to €17m net. This restores Ronaldo to the status of the highest-paid player in Spain: Barcelona pay Leo Messi a basic €13m-a-year plus a possible €3m-a-year in bonuses.

Ronaldo, who cost a then world record £80m when he joined Madrid from United in 2009, has scored 203 goals in as many games for the record nine-times champions of Europe.

It is thought that the contract extension is similar to Ronaldo’s current deal as far as image rights are concerned. He ‘takes’ 60pc of net revenue with 40pc going to the club – one of the particular concepts in which the club recoup significant sums after record transfer outlays.

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