Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to miss out on bonuses worth at least £5 million due to Manchester United’s wretched Champions League showing, as well as their inconsistency in the league.
International football’s all-time leading scorer was on a contract worth an eye-watering £800,000 a week at Juventus, but that fell to £450,000 as he returned to United last summer. As reported by the Daily Star, in an attempt to make up the difference, Ronaldo successfully negotiated bonuses into his contract worth at least £5m.
However, these bonuses were target-driven, and the Red Devils’ poor season means he won’t be lining his pockets any time soon. Most of his bonuses are now out of the question.
If Manchester United had lifted the Champions League for the first time since 2008 — when Ronaldo scored in the opener in the final against Chelsea — the Portugal striker would have secured himself a cool £2.5m. However, Ralf Rangnick’s United crashed out a fortnight ago at the last 16 stage, beaten by Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid.
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Other parts of the bonus which are beyond United include winning the league title — while a top-four finish looks increasingly unlikely due to the strong form of Mikel Arteta’s young Arsenal side and a gradually improving Tottenham Hotspur.
Luckily for ex-Real Madrid star Ronaldo, his bonuses are not dependent on each other. As a result, he is very likely to at least receive one of them: for ending the season as the club’s top scorer. He may have recently turned 37, but Ronaldo has led the line well for United this term, notching 18 goals in 33 games in all competitions.
His nearest rival at the club is compatriot Bruno Fernandes, but the midfielder’s nine goals take him only half the way to Ronaldo’s tally. Ronaldo therefore looks set to at least finish the season with a bit of extra cash.
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But despite topping the charts among United’s best goalscorers, this is likely to be Ronaldo’s worst season for goals since at least 2008/09 and possibly since 2005/06. The club are out of every cup competition and only have their league form left to focus on. They are currently in sixth place, one point behind fifth-place Arsenal, but 20 points off league leaders and fierce rivals Manchester City.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United, Ralf Rangnick, Juventus, Bruno Fernandes