MONEYBAGS idol Cristiano Ronaldo will earn at least £50million from his sensational Manchester United comeback after telling them: “I want to come home.”
The Sun can reveal the superstar, 36, had been in secret talks for months to rejoin the Red Devils — despite rumours he would sign for rivals Man City.
A source said: “In his heart, he only ever wanted to go back to United.”
The superstar, who already has a personal fortune of £500million, stunned the football world yesterday with his return to Old Trafford.
He is heading back to the Red Devils just as he seemed set to move to arch rivals Man City.
The Portuguese idol shot to fame in his first spell at Old Trafford before leaving for Real Madrid in 2009.
And we can reveal he had been in secret talks for months over the lucrative deal to leave Italian giants Juventus.
‘WANTED TO COME HOME’
A source said: “Cristiano was keen to secure a good deal because he is still one of the very best footballers in the world.
“But in his heart he only ever wanted to go back to Manchester United. He told the club he wanted to come home and now he is home.”
Ronaldo, whose glittering first spell included a European Champions League and three Premier League titles wins, will put pen to paper on a two-year deal worth £480,000 a week, or £25million a year.
He is expected to earn millions more in a cut of replica shirt sales, having apparently made sure he will again wear the famous No7 after making a fortune from his CR7 brand.
Currently back in Portugal, he is expected to fly into Manchester this weekend with Argentinian model girlfriend Georgina Rodríguez, 27, and his four kids to look for a mega-mansion near the city.
Yesterday, it emerged his mentor and former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson — who signed him as an 18-year-old and has a special “father and son” relationship with him — phoned to urge him to return.
Sir Alex, 79, hopes it will get one over City and help restore the glory years.
Red Devils chief Ed Woodward also spent two months wooing the club legend before the huge coup.
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand revealed he phoned and urged Ronaldo not to sign for City.
A source said: “Talks with Cristiano have been going on behind the scenes for about two months.
“When it became clear he wanted to leave Italy, United were determined to get him but wanted to keep it as quiet as possible.
“They also never believed Cristiano would ever be willing to sign for City.
“He is a United legend and the fans still sing his name at every game.”
The announcement saw United’s share price leap eight per cent, increasing its value by around £181million.
The club website crashed as millions of fans tried to learn more about the comeback.
United are understood to be paying a £21.4million transfer fee for Ronaldo once he has completed a medical and agreed personal terms.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
