Ronaldo will be salary king – report

Cristiano Ronaldo will earn 13 million euros a year with Real Madrid to become the world’s highest-paid footballer once the finishing touches are put to his 93 million-euro move from Manchester United, Marca sports daily reported on Wednesday.

Marca said Ronaldo’s deal would see him move ahead of current soccer salary king, Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who currently earns 12 million euros a year.

Ronaldo, 24, had been on around 7.5 million euros a year at Old Trafford.

At Real, his net salary is reportedly set to top nine million, in contrast to the six million gross for veteran striker Raul.

According to a report by financial advisors Ernst and Young, footballers plying their trade in Spain enjoy a special tax regime meaning they must pay only 24 percent income tax rather than the usual 43 percent top rate for high rollers.

Real chairman Florentino Perez meanwhile told the Publico daily that the money spent on Ronaldo and Brazilian Kaka, signed from AC Milan for 65 million euros, was worth it in terms of “investment” as he expected their signings to push club earnings to some 400 million euros a year.

Portuguese bank Espirito Santo has capitalised on the Ronaldo saga by launching a full-page advertisement in Spain showing the player smiling atop a pile of suitcases with the caption: “Here’s where my money is.”