Manchester United are ready to make Cristiano Ronaldo the Premier League's first £200,000-a-week player.

The News of the World says United hope the record £10.4million- a-year contract will stop the Portuguese winger from joining Real Madrid.

Ronaldo still three years left on his existing £120,000-a-week deal but a FIFA ruling means he can buy himself out of his contract at the end of next season.

So as United began preparing for this afternoon's Carling Cup Final against Spurs at Wembley, Old Trafford chiefs started plans to offer him a basic weekly wage of £160,000 - plus an extra £40,000 for image rights and commercial activities to keep him out of the Spanish champions' clutches.

Spanish sources claim Ronaldo has a verbal agreement to move to Real this summer. But United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insisted: "There is no question of Ronaldo leaving."

And a Portuguese source close to the player added: "Cristiano wants to clear his head of the Real Madrid move once and for all. When he agreed to stay at United last summer he thought it would be just for one more year.

"But now he seems to be setting his mind on the long term because he realises he can fulfil all his ambitions at Old Trafford."

The new offer will add another two years to his existing agreement which expires in 2012. And that will tie the reigning World Player of the Year to the Premier League and European champions until 2014.