Cristiano Ronaldo risks blowing a £25million sponsorship deal with Nike if he ends up leaving his current team for Real Madrid.
Ronaldo has stated that he is more than ready to move to Real if they are willing to pay up, but that may be tough since his current contracts and sponsorships will most likely bring him £220,000 a week, topping Real's offer of £200,000. Helping him reach this number would be the new 'CR7' series that Manchester United is still trying to put together for Ronaldo with Nike that would add the extra £100,000 a week to his current contract at Old Trafford worth £120,000.
Nike will be reluctant to launch the new CR7 line if Ronaldo does end up leaving for Real Madrid. To further the push to keep Ronaldo, United will be trying to quiet the public pursuit of him from Real by reporting them to FIFA after the Spanish club's president, Ramon Calderon, made yet another declaration of intent yesterday.
If they do, a fine is the only likely punishment, but United have decided to act on a point of principle.
United even called Sky Sports News to stop them from reporting the rumour, and it is clear Ronaldo is going to have to submit a transfer request, or accept that he must stay at the club.
If Nike drops him, Adidas will surely pick him up and pay him just as much. It’ll be Nike’s loss to drop their contract with the best player in the world.