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Cristiano Ronaldo will deliver Manchester United United an astonishing £8.3million-a-year ultimatum: Make me the world's highest-paid player or I'm off.
We can reveal an Arab oil sheik has offered to stump up £30m to take Ronaldo to Barcelona in the summer.
At the same time, Ronaldo's representatives want to seal a deal that would guarantee the Portuguese superstar £160,000 A WEEK. A source close to Ronaldo confirmed: "There are lots of meetings taking place regarding Cristiano's new contract.
"But if United say he's the best player in the world they have to give him the best salary in the world."
Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid have both made Ronaldo their No1 target.
Sheik Mansour Al-Balawi, who owns Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad, has developed a strong football and business link with Barca president Joan Laporta.
And Al-Bawi last night confirmed "I will do what is necessary to help Barcelona sign a great player like Cristiano."
And Ronaldo added further fuel to the debate over his future by insisting: "I've always said that I like Spanish football and that it's a kind of football which attracts me.
"I've got a contract with United. If Spanish clubs speak to anyone it's with my agent, not with me."
The link between the Saudi club and Barça was sealed in a recent visit to the Middle East by Laporta.
The bilateral agreement, signed last December, allows for two friendly matches and the construction of six football academies.
Al-Ittihad recently signed former Real Madrid and Barcelona star Luis Figo in a deal brokered by Spanish agent Mariam Montano who said: "Right now Al-Ittihad and Barca are very close.
"Sheik Mansour Al-Balawi is happy to support Barcelona financially in the transfer market."