Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 55 goals in as many games for Real Madrid this season. Reuters

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has stated his desire to keep Cristiano Ronaldo at the club and intends to make him the world’s best player in order to do so. Since revealing he was “sad” earlier in the season, Ronaldo has been repeatedly linked with a move away from the Bernabeu, with both Paris Saint-Germain and former club Manchester United said to be lining up a transfer. With the 27-year-old entering the final two years of his contract, Madrid will want the player to extend his deal to avoid his value decreasing.

And Perez, who faces a presidential election next month, has revealed that the club will pay what it takes to keep their star man. “I want to make him the best paid player in the world,” he told Spanish radio station Cadena SER. “When we spoke, I told him that we would do everything in our power to ensure that he wasn’t sad. He went through a rough patch, and that’s that. After that, he has been exceptional.”

Perez also dismissed claims that outgoing Madrid manager Jose Mourinho had suggested selling the player earlier in the campaign. “Why would he do that if he is our best player by a distance? Cristiano has been exemplary and has never had problems with anyone. He’s the best player in the world and I want him to be the best paid in the world.”

While the finances involved always made a return to Old Trafford for Ronaldo somewhat fanciful, the departure of the Portuguese’s former mentor Sir Alex Ferguson appear to have diminish those chances further. Instead it seems that new United manager David Moyes has his sights on one of Ronaldo’s Madrid teammates. According to the Sunday People, Moyes has made inquiries about former United target Luka Modric, who joined Madrid in a deal worth around £30 million.

The Croatian playmaker has endured a difficult first season at the Bernabeu, although his fortunes have improved since scoring a superb goal against United in the Champions League round of 16. Yet, the People believes that the 27-year-old could be available for £24 million. His current coach Jose Mourinho is also said to be interested in taking Modric with him to Chelsea.

Modric is just one of several midfielders to be linked with a move to Manchester United in recent days. Building on growing speculation, the Daily Mirror reports that Moyes is closing in on a £24 million deal to bring Marouane Fellaini with him to Old Trafford. The Belgian midfielder has a clause in his contract allowing him to join a Champions League club for that figure. The 25-year-old recently hinted at the move, saying that he would only leave Everton for a manager that had as much faith in him as Moyes.

Also linked to United is Barcelona’s Thiago Alcantara. Speculation has increased suggesting that United, among other clubs across Europe, are trailing the midfielder since it emerged that a clause in his contract allowing him to leave for £18 million (£15.4m) can be activated after he failed to play in 60 percent of Barcelona’s games this season.

And the 22-year-old has left the door open on an exit by responding to a question over his future by saying that he’d make a decision after competing in this summer’s European Under-21 Championship with Spain, according to Mundo Deportivo.

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