REAL MADRID star Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly demanded the La Liga giants increase his salary to the same as what Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain stars Lionel Messi and Neymar earn.
Ronaldo scored 42 goals from 46 games as Real Madrid conquered Spanish and European football last season.
But the 32-year-old has endured a rocky summer, threatening to leave Los Blancos after being accused of tax fraud by the Spanish authorities.
And Spanish outlet Diario Gol claim Ronaldo is demanding more recognition from Zinedine Zidane’s side.
The former Manchester United star supposedly feels he deserves a higher wage, with Messi and Neymar in mind.
Ronaldo reckons that Real will be hard-pressed to find a player capable of what he can do – perhaps not unfair given he is the club’s all-time leading scorer despite only signing eight years ago.
The 32-year-old is said to want at least the same wages of Neymar, who left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain earlier this summer.
The Brazil international will pocket £27million a year at the Parc des Princes but he is still not European football’s biggest earner.
That belongs to Lionel Messi who, despite not officially putting pen to paper on a new Barcelona contract, will earn £37m a year once that decision is formalised.
Diario Gol also claims Ronaldo is seeking a higher wage with his tax issues in mind.
The forward feels it would be a true show of support from Real, with the player previously being angry at the club for their failure to publicly back him in the row.
Journalist Ian McGarry says Cristiano Ronaldo’s discontent at Madrid is merely a front to earn a new and improved contract.
“I think this [desire to leave] is just more posturing from the great one,” he told the Transfer Window podcast.
“I think he is trying to throw his wait around with the Spanish authorities.”
Source:www.express.co.uk