Real Madrid looks like the team to beat in '09-'10 UEFA

June 12, 2009
Section: B
For Real Madrid, Spending Grows
ROB HUGHESCristiano Ronaldo, soccer's world player of the year in 2008, is set to join Kaka at Real Madrid, completing a groundbreaking outlay of more than $220 million over four days for two of the world's best players. On Thursday, English champion Manchester United announced that it had accepted $131.5 million to sell Ronaldo to Real Madrid. It is the highest transfer fee ever paid in soccer. The move came three days after Real Madrid completed its $92 million bid to buy the Brazilian star Kaka from A.C. Milan. Ronaldo, a 24-year-old Portuguese wing, will command at least the equivalent salary of Kaka, $12.8 million a year. In addition, both players will share with Real Madrid any income the club can generate in merchandise sales using their image. Once salary and other terms are agreed upon and Ronaldo's contract is written -- by June 30, according to Manchester United's announcement -- it will value one player more highly than the entire amount that Newcastle United, an English club, has been put on the market for. Real Madrid could make it three in a week by concluding the purchase of David Villa, the Spanish striker who is the top goal scorer likely to be available on the global market.