Football: Man United weighing $288m deal to lure Ronaldo back

Real may seek a £60m transfer fee for Cristiano Ronaldo. Photo / AP

Manchester United will have to fund a 140 million ($288 million) package to resign Cristiano Ronaldo next summer if they again attempt to lure the Real Madrid winger back to Old Trafford.

The staggering cost of completing a move for Ronaldo has emerged, with senior figures at Europe's leading clubs given notice of the player's 380,000-a-week wage demands and the prospect of Real seeking a 60 million transfer fee for the 29-year-old.

With Ronaldo less than two years into a five-year contract at the Bernabeu, any potential bidder must also be prepared to sanction a four-year deal, worth 19 million a year in wages. An admission by United manager Louis van Gaal last week that the club would be interested in signing Ronaldo, five years after his world-record 80 million transfer to Real, has added to speculation in Spain that the world footballer of the year could be sold by the European champions at the end of this season.

Ronaldo's fractious relationship with Real president Florentino Perez has become increasingly strained following his public disagreement with the decision to sell Angel di Maria and Xabi Alonso during the transfer window. There is now a growing sense Perez will consider selling Ronaldo next summer. Equally, Ronaldo has done little to dismiss the prospect of a return to United, admitting last month that the club was like a "second family".

"I love Manchester and you never know in football," Ronaldo said. "Of course I'm happy at Real Madrid; it's my home, it's my club, but United treated me unbelievably, so you never know."

United could have a clear run to signing the Portugal captain, with their most likely rivals put off by the overall cost and the potential of Ronaldo's salary creating tension among teammates. United made serious attempts to re-sign Ronaldo during 2013 when he encouraged interest during his contract dispute with Real, which was resolved.

Wealthy rivals such as Manchester City and Paris St-Germain were also sounded out about the prospect of entering the race for the player should he abandon contract talks with Real and pursue a move elsewhere.

While PSG expressed a readiness to rival United for Ronaldo, City are understood to have rejected the opportunity amid concerns over the cost and the minimal prospect of a sufficient return on the investment.

With City pursuing younger, less expensive targets next summer and PSG restricted by Uefa's Financial Fair Play strictures - City are confident they will break even in their next financial results and have no compliance issues with FFP - United would be in a strong position should they launch a renewed bid for Ronaldo.

Despite investing more than 150 million on signings this summer, United remain determined to add to their squad and have the funds to embark on further lavish spending due to commercial deals that will earn them 75 million a year and 53 million a year from partnerships with adidas and Chevrolet respectively.