Big deals

---

Cristiano Ronaldo

MANCHESTER United have accepted a world record ¨80 million transfer fee from Real Madrid which will see the Portuguese phenomenon, Cristiano Ronaldo, switch to Spain this summer once personal terms are agreed. A week earlier Real completed the signing of Brazilian playmaker Kaka from AC Milan on a six- year deal for about ¨56m. Real Madrid's extravaganza transfer of the two superstars may trigger the biggest summer spending spree in the history of football.

A list of players linked with moves reads like a who's who of the modern game: David Villa, Franck Ribery, Cesc Fabregas, Samuel Eto'o, Sergio Aguero, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Carlos Tevez and plenty more.

Real, with Florentino Perez -- the man who ushered in their first Galactico era at the start of the century -- back as president, will probably not stop at Ronaldo or Kaka as they seek to challenge Barcelona for Spanish supremacy next season.

Ronaldo's fee, if confirmed, would be a new world record in pounds sterling, surpassing the ¨45.6m Real paid for Zinedine Zidane in 2001.

Kaka, 27, revealed he had joined the Spanish club to help the Italians overcome their financial difficulties.

"I wanted to stay but the world crisis affected my decision," he said. "I knew I'd only leave Milan to play for Real."

And he revealed that the deal had been in the pipeline for some time.

"I've been weighing up the offer from Real Madrid a lot," he confirmed.

"It's an important project for me to continue growing in my career. I'm not going to Real Madrid for money, as I had other offers.

"They have historic players there already, such as Raul and Iker Casillas. It will be an important challenge for me."

Kaka had the opportunity to join Manchester City earlier in the year during the January transfer window for a reported ¨100m but opted to stay in Italy.

"Manchester City and Real Madrid are two different clubs with different situations," he explained. "At that time, it was mid-season, I had a strong emotional impact due to the Italian fans requesting me to stay and I decided to stay."

Kaka had been at Milan since moving from Brazilian side Sao Paolo in 2003 for 8.5m euros and he leaves the Rossoneri on good terms.

"I want to thank Milan, as they were the club who put me on the international scene. They gave me the opportunity to become a big name in Europe," he stated.

The Brazilian enjoyed great success in his six years at the San Siro. In 2007 alone Milan picked up the Champions League as well as the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, while his Brazil side won the Confederations Cup and he was also voted the FIFA World Player of the Year. He also won the Seria A title and was part of Brazil's 2002 World Cup-winning squad.

The official unveiling in Madrid is unlikely to take place until the end of the month because Kaka is in the Brazil squad for the Confederations Cup in South Africa, which started last Sunday.

He is the first capture for the returning Real president Perez, who spent large fees to bring the likes of Ronaldo (¨23.2m), David Beckham (¨24.5m), Luis Figo (¨37m) and Zidane to the club.

The likes of Manchester United's Ronaldo had been linked to Real since Perez's unopposed election signalled the return of their vast spending.

Ronaldo flourished in the wake of the 2006 World Cup, when he was targeted by opposition fans in the Premier League angry at his reaction to Wayne Rooney's red card in England's quarter-final defeat by Portugal.

The gifted forward, who appears to be never out of the spotlight, believes that for every fan who jeers him, there are more who appreciate his talents.