Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo turned down a sensational transfer proposal that would have made him the highest paid footballer in the world, earning an astounding £2 million per week.
The Portuguese great was offered a two-year contract by Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, which would have earned him an astounding £209.5 million over the life of the contract. The 37-year-old was offered a significant raise from his Old Trafford deal, which would have allowed him to easily outperform any other player, but he turned it down.
After his high-profile comeback from Juventus last year after 12 seasons away, Ronaldo was determined to leave the Red Devils this summer after just one season back at Old Trafford. However, this aim was not realized as he stayed at Old Trafford.
The 37-year-old Ronaldo, who is the club's highest earner, was "upset" to see his pay at United cut by 25%. All of the players' weekly wages were also reduced, with the 37-year-old Ronaldo suffering the greatest reduction. That resulted from the club's failure to earn a spot in the Champions League, in which Ronaldo is fervently trying to keep playing.
However, the forward was approached by Al-Hilal about a two-year deal, and according to the numbers Marca reported, he had the chance to greatly increase his salary. The player, however, did not find the destination appealing.
Ronaldo used to make £34 million (€40 million) a year at Juventus thanks to advantageous Italian tax legislation, but his salary has since dropped to £25.5 million (€30 million) at Manchester United, making him the team's highest paid player.
