Politics
Cristiano Ronaldo lands huge Man Utd bonus after passing 20-goal mark this season… and he’s not done yet
CRISTIANO RONALDO’S 60th career hat-trick earned him an £850,000 windfall.
The superstar forward hit an Old Trafford treble for a second Prem game running to clinch victory over basement boys Norwich.
Cristiano Ronaldo landed a massive bonus after his hat-trick on SaturdayAFP
EPAThe Manchester United forward went past 20 goals for the season and triggered a clause that paid him out[/caption]
It took him to 21 goals in all competitions this season, triggering a bonus-related clause in his contract.
When Ronaldo returned to Manchester United in the summer, a set of incentives were included in the deal.
Saturday’s heroics saw him bank two of those — the first a £750,000 bonus for reaching 20 goals and then another £100,000 for his hat-trick strike.
Having reached his initial goals target, the Portuguese ace will continue to bank an extra £100,000, like yesterday, for every additional goal he bags this term.
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Ronaldo, 37, is near certain to end the campaign as United’s top scorer to earn another jackpot — believed to be around £1million.
And if he manages to reach the 30-goal mark the five-time World Footballer of the Year will bank around £2.75m in total payments.
United certainly needed him against Norwich, after two Teemu Pukki goals cancelled out a Ronaldo tap-in and towering header.
His winner came from a thunderous free kick, although Canaries keeper Tim Krul did get both hands to it.
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United boss Ralf Rangnick insisted: “I don’t think we need to speak about Ronaldo’s performance today.
“Another hat trick, like the one he scored against Tottenham, made the difference, and at least two of them were not easy to score, the second and third.”
Ronaldo still has 12 months left on the contract which saw him return to Old Trafford last summer, yet there have been doubts from some as to whether he merits seeing it out.
Rangnick, who will be replaced by permanent boss Erik ten Hag at the end of the season, wasn’t about to get involved in that argument.
But he did say: “In the end it is not my decision, He has another year of his contract and it’s one for the new manager and board to take on.
“But he showed against Tottenham and today how he can be the difference. It’s no coincidence he has the highest scoring record of anyone in history.”
