New Real Madrid signing Cristiano Ronaldo has become the world's richest footballer. Forget Ronaldo's £80 million world record transfer, the new Real Madrid signing will become the game's biggest ever earner after deciding to quit Manchester United.

The Times says in financial terms, though, the real winner is Ronaldo, 24, who is expected to sign a six-year contract before being formally confirmed as a Real player on July 1.

His salary will start at £9.5 million a year, rising 25 per cent annually to a staggering £29 million - or just over £557,500 a week - in the final year. He stands to earn up to £107 million.

Real's outlay on Ronaldo and Kaká, who joined for £56 million this week, could total £330 million, with the club paying more than £1 million a week in wages for the pair come the 2014-2015 season.