£140m Cristiano Ronaldo!

• Manchester United will have to pay £60m fee plus wages of £20m a year to lure Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid
• The 29-year-old was hawked around Europe’s top clubs that summer before eventually signing a new five-year deal at the Bernabeu
• Despite Ronaldo’s success at Real, sources in Spain point to the Portugal forward not feeling loved

The true cost of trying to lure Cristiano Ronaldo back to the Premier League can be revealed to be more than £140million after it emerged that the former Manchester United star’s advisors have been asking for astonishing wages of £20m a year.

Ronaldo is understood to be willing to listen to offers after becoming unsettled at Real Madrid and new United manager Louis van Gaal did not rule out a move for the World Player of the Year last weekend. 

Cristiano Ronaldo scored another hat-trick for Real Madrid this week to take his goal tally to 264

However, any club wishing to buy Ronaldo would have to come up with mind-boggling sums after it emerged that the player’s representatives set the bar at £385,000 a week when they put feelers out regarding their client 18 months ago. 

At that time United were interested in a move for their former golden child as the club’s owners the Glazer family looked to add the ultimate signing to the squad David Moyes had inherited from Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ronaldo was hawked around Europe’s top clubs that summer before eventually signing a new five-year deal at the Bernabeu.

Ronaldo was hawked around Europe’s top clubs that summer before eventually signing a new five-year deal

Ronaldo is understood to be willing to listen to offers after becoming unsettled at Real Madrid

‘It simply wasn’t worth having the conversation at those numbers,’ said one top Premier League source on Thursday night.

Despite Ronaldo’s success at Real — he now has 264 goals for them — he is expected to look to leave once again next summer.

Sources in Spain point to Ronaldo not feeling loved and indicate he may be president Florentino Perez’s one high-profile departure of 2015. 

Manchester United were interested in signing Ronaldo last summer but he opted to stay in Spain

A group of United fans plan to fly a 'come home Ronaldo' banner over Real Madrid's next game

By then Ronaldo will be past his 30th birthday and there are serious questions as to whether United — or anyone in England — could find the money to sign him, even if his wage demands were to drop slightly. 

With Perez sure to want around £60m for someone who continues to produce world-class displays, even a four-year deal for Ronaldo would take the total investment to over £140m — for a player heading towards his 35th birthday by the time that contract ran out.

Last month United did decide to go the extra mile to sign another Real Madrid player, Angel di Maria, in a transfer worth more than £120m.

Ronaldo could be reunited with Wayne Rooney if he decides to return to Old Trafford

They also agreed to pay loanee striker Falcao £265,000 a week between now and the end of the season. 

However, a move for Ronaldo would blow those salaries out of the water and cause potential problems. 

Another Premier League executive said: ‘Even when you have a dressing room full of well-paid players, you are always taking a risk when you introduce a player who earns so much more than the rest.’

United have already flexed their financial muscle to sign Radamel Falcao on loan this season

United did to go the extra mile to sign another Real Madrid player, Angel di Maria

Is this the world’s most expensive car? $6 million gold Lamborghini pictured in Paris

• Gold-plated Lamborghini Aventador parked by Plaza Athenee palace hotel on the luxury Avenue Montaigne
• The luxury car appears to be from Saudi Arabia and sports a distinctive 666 number plate
• Last year solid gold model Lamborghini Aventador went on display in Dubai with a pricetag of $7.5 million

As far as supercars go this might be the one to beat.

Labelled as quite possibly the most expensive car in the world, the gold Lamborghini Aventador has been spotted cruising the streets of Paris.

As fashion week starts today, the car - which is valued at around £4 million and appears to be from Saudi Arabia - was parked outside the Plaza Athenee palace hotel on the luxury Avenue Montaigne.

Scroll down for video 

Labelled as quite possibly the most expensive car in the world, the gold Lamborghini Aventador has been spotted cruising the streets of the French capital

The car - which is valued at around £4 million and appears to be from Saudi Arabia - was parked outside the Plaza Athenee palace hotel on the luxury Avenue Montaigne

Sporting a distinctive 666 number plate, the gold-plated supercar appears to be the same one which has been turning heads in the French capital over the past few days.

Car enthusiasts have filmed the gold plated vehicle, which features a 6.5-litre V12 engine delivering 692 hp, driving through some of Paris's most exclusive streets.

The most impressive supercars, popular with wealthy playboys and mega-rich Arabs, are usually housed in the Middle East. 

But they are often spotted on the streets of European cities over the summer months, when rich Qataris, Saudis, Emiratis and Kuwaitis move away to escape the Middle East's baking mid-summer temperatures.

Sporting a distinctive 666 number plate, the gold-plated supercar appears to be the same one which has been turning heads in the French capital over the past few days

Car enthusiasts have filmed the gold plated vehicle, which features a 6.5-litre V12 engine delivering 692 hp, driving through some of Paris's most exclusive streets

Even the brake callipers on the distinctive supercar seen in Paris over the past few days are gold coated

The vehicles - which act as a magnet for curious tourists and car enthusiasts - are tailor-made versions of famous models from car manufacturers such as Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bugattis and Bentley.

LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR LP 700-4 

Top speed: 217mph (350kph)

Acceleration (0-62mph): 2.9 seconds

Seats: 2

Miles per gallon: 17.7mpg

Price: Around £300,000 

This summer a striking gold Ferrari sitting on Sloane Street in London drew a few admiring glances. Among the other supercars spotted were a £2.5 million premium LaFerrari, £2 million Bugatti Veyron and £700,000 McLarent.

But the gold Lamborghini parked up outside the Plaza Athenee suggests that the supercar summer is not quite over yet.

Last year, a model gold Lamborghini Aventador went on display at a showroom in Dubai to celebrate the manufacturer's 50th birthday.

The gold vehicle had a pricetag of $7.5 million, making it the world's most expensive model car.

Carved out of a 500-kilogram block of solid gold, the finished model contained 25 kilograms of the precious metal. The model was designed by German mechanical engineer Robert Gülpen and sculpted from the same carbon fibre used to make Formula One cars.

This summer a striking gold Ferrari sitting on Sloane Street in London drew a few admiring glances

Supercars are often spotted on the streets of European cities over the summer months, when their mega-rich owners escape the Middle East's baking temperatures

Mr Gülpen said: 'I wanted to do what no-one else has done before, to build a model car that is an "icon within an icon".

'I wanted to create a tribute to the legend of the automobile.'

The 1:8 scale replica of the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 was just a prototype - for an even more extravagant model that will be cast from a block of solid gold.

A model gold Lamborghini Aventador went on display at a showroom in Dubai to celebrate the manufacturer's 50th birthday.The gold vehicle had a price tag of $7.5 million, making it the world's most expensive model car

The 1:8 scale replica of the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 was just a prototype - for an even more extravagant model that will be cast from a block of solid gold

Real bimbang jika Ronaldo tiada

ANCELOTTI mengaku bergantung penuh kepada penampilan Ronaldo (kiri) untuk meneruskan kebangkitan Real dalam Liga Sepanyol.

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MADRID - Pengendali Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti mengakui tidak berniat untuk merehatkan Cristiano Ronaldo biarpun akan mengharungi jadual padat empat perlawanan dalam tempoh 12 hari.

Bintang sensasi The Galacticos itu telah beraksi kesemua tujuh perlawanan musim ini termasuk kejayaan meraih Piala Super Uefa sewaktu menang ke atas Sevilla dan juga kedua-dua perlawanan timbal balik Piala Super Sepanyol.

"Ronaldo tidak memerlukan rehat, kami memerlukannya kerana dia berada pada tahap terbaik ketika ini," kata Ancelotti.

Sebagai rekod, pemain berusia 29 tahun itu telah meledak enam gol dalam empat perlawanan terdahulu termasuk kejayaan hatrik sewaktu membelasah Deportivo 8-2 pada saingan Liga Sepanyol, Sabtu lalu.

Selepas ini, Real akan menentang Villareal pada Sabtu ini sebelum bertandang ke Bulgaria berdepan Ludogorets Razgrad dalam saingan Liga Juara Juara pada 1 Oktober.

Selepas itu, skuad bimbingan Ancelotti itu akan menanti kunjungan Athletic Bilbao di Stadium Bernabeu pada 5 Oktober sebelum rehat panjang bagi memberi laluan kepada perlawanan antarabangsa.

Biarpun berjaya 'meratah' Deportivo minggu lalu, namun Ancelotti menggesa anak-anak buahnya mempamerkan peningkatkan yang lebih tinggi.

"Keputusan menentang Deportivo sangat bagus tetapi ia boleh menjadi berlainan kerana kami masih perlu memperbaiki beberapa aspek dalam permainan kami.

"Kami perlu meningkatkan cara pertahanan kami tetapi saya fikir, kami kini lebih tersusun berbanding pada musim lalu," jelasnya.

Ketika ini, Real menduduki tangga ketujuh liga hasil dua kemenangan dan dua kekalahan sepanjang empat aksi Liga Sepanyol setakat ini.

The Galacticos juga berkemungkinan besar tidak dapat menurunkan dua tonggak pertahanan, Sergio Ramos dan Pepe menjelang aksi liga domestik bertemu Elche hari ini. - Agensi

Real Madrid 5-1 Elche: Cristiano Ronaldo bags FOUR and Gareth Bale gets another

• Real Madrid defeated Elche 5-1 in their La Liga clash at the Bernabeu
• Visitors took a shock lead through Albácar Gallego after a controversial penalty was awarded by referee Carlos Carlos Gómez
• Gareth Bale equalised with a header from James Rodriguez's cross
• Cristiano Ronaldo scored four more goals including a pair of penalties
• Portuguese has now scored 25 hat-tricks for Los Blancos 

Cristiano Ronaldo scored hat-trick number 25 of his Real Madrid career as Carlo Ancelotti’s side made it 18 goals in three games with a thumping win over Elche.

It was Ronaldo’s eighth goal inside a week and after the game he was asked if he was still happy at Madrid.

He said: ‘Things are going well for more on a personal level the team is scoring goals, winning matches and playing well.’ Asked about Jose Mourinho’s recent comments about the pair no longer having a relationship, he added: ‘It’s not for me to talk about things like that I’m just concentrating on what we are doing on the pitch.’ 

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale celebrate after the Portuguese scored his second in the 5-1 victory

Elche forward Edu Albscar (R) scores a controversial penalty past Keylor Navas to open the scoring

Bale wheels away in celebration after bringing Real Madrid back on level terms at the Bernabeu

Ronaldo scored in his 13th consecutive home game after another controversial penalty

Ronaldo sends a kiss to the Bernabeu after completing his hat-trick from thepenalty spot.

MATCH FACTS 

Real Madrid: Navas, Marcelo, Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Kroos, Rodríguez, Illarramendi, Bale, Isco, Ronaldo

Subs: Casillas, Coentrão, Benzema, Hernández, Arbeloa, Nacho, Modric

Booked: Carvajal, Marcelo

Scorers: Bale 20', Ronaldo 28', 32', 80', 90'

Elche: Yagüe, Gallego, Pelegrín, Lombán, Cisma, Romero, Corominas, Rodrigues, Mosquera, Morales, Cristian de Jesus

Booked: Gallego

Scorer: Gallego 15' 

Subs: Suárez, Roco, Herrera, Martín, Fajr, Pasalic, Tyton

Ref: Carlos Clos Gómez

At: 65,000

There was crisis talk a week ago at Madrid but five goals against Basle in the Champions League, eight against Deportivo, and five against Elche here have silenced all the gloom.

They will face far tougher opposition in the coming weeks but now, fully in their stride, they will fear no one. Ronaldo even grabbed a late fourth goal from a Gareth Bale pass and that blossoming partnership is another reason for Real Madrid supporters to be full of optimism.

The highlight of the first half was a strange refereeing performance from Carlos Clos Gomez. On 15 minutes he pointed to the spot when Ronaldo looked to clear from inside the area and caught Pedro Mosquera unintentionally. Ronaldo later admitted that it had been a penalty but both Real Madrid and Elche players looked bemused.

Within minutes Gomez had made another very strange decision this time in Madrid’s favour.

Gary Mendes Rodrigues went down under a challenge from Marcelo. It was debatable whether the challenge had been a foul but the contact from Marcelo that brought the Elche forward crashing to ground was inside the area. Clos gave a free-kick on the edge of the area that Elche wasted. 

Albácar Gallego points to the sky after giving Elche a surprise lead from the penalty spot

Bale equalised only four minutes later with a towering header from James Rodriguez's cross

The former Tottenham Hotspur winger issues his trademark 'heart-shaped hands' goal celebration

New signing Keylor Navas (above) makes an acrobatic save while Iker Casillas watched from the bench

Before the next bizarre penalty incident Real Madrid were level with Bale heading in James Rodriguez’ cross. It was his fifth goal in five games - aided by Manu Herrera’s very flat dive.

Then came penalty number two with Gomez pointing to the spot after minimal contact from Mosquera on Marcelo – again players from both sides looked bemused but Ronaldo’s penalty was unstoppable into the top right-hand corner.

Real Madrid extended their lead when Ronaldo scored with another thundering header this time from a Bale cross.

The home side were now in complete control and debutant keeper Keylor Navas was having less and less to do. In for the rested Iker Casillas who is expected to brought back into the side for the weekend’s difficult trip to Villarreal, it was Navas first competitive match since the World Cup.

Casillas was still the centre of attention with cameras focused on the bench as he munched on an apple during the second half. He appears to be a dead man walking in Madrid’s battle of the goalkeepers with Navas unlikely to still be the number two next season. For now however the greatest keeper in Spain’s history retains seniority and this start for Navas was seen as a reward for his patience. 

Ronaldo hangs in the air before planting a bullet header into the bottom left cornerfor his second

Ronaldo strenghthened his reputation as one of the best headers in the game with a bullet second goal

Real defender Sergio Ramos (L) has a headed effort on goal during the first-half

Real Madrid players celebrate with Ronaldo en route to victory in front of their home fans

Ronaldo gets his fourth and final goal of the night after a break away in the dying minutes

Madrid toiled for the fourth goal and Ronaldo came close with a shot drilled towards Herrera’s near post scrambled away by the keeper who then fumbled the resulting corner kick.

Javier Hernandez came on with ten minutes left replacing James. The former Manchester United former had staked his claim for a place in the starting line-up with two goals against Deportivo last weekend but as if to show how difficult it will be for him to get into Carlo Ancelotti’s starting line-up, he was on the bench again despite the debut goals.

Hernandez’s appearance did bring a goal but it came from another former United player with Ronaldo wining another slightly dubious penalty and thrashing it home for goal number four and hat-trick number 25. He and Bale had not finished and there was a late fourth for Ronaldo – his eighth goal inside a week.

Earning their stripes: Zebra go head to head with wildebeest in battle to cross river to reach grasslands

• Band of zebras fight their way through thousands of wildebeest as they attempt to make their way across river
• Photographer Viktoras Dubinskas captured the scenes at the Mara river as the zebras battled their way through water
• The annual migration sees thousands of wildebeest move across the plains in search for new grazing opportunities

Fighting their way through the hordes of wildebeest, a band of zebras bravely attempt to cross one of the Serengeti's fast-flowing rivers in their bid to reach fresh grasslands.

The annual migration sees thousands of wildebeest move across the plains in search for new grazing opportunities.

As they make the journey however they are forced to attempt to find a way across the frantic waters.  

Earning their stripes: A band of zebras battle their way through thousands of wildebeest as they attempt to cross the Mara river to reach fresh grasslands

Battle: The zebras joined an estimated 50,000 wildebeest as they attempted to cross the river during the annual migration on the Serengeti

Survivor: Many wildebeest were trampled to death but all of the zebras managed to survive the crossing

Hordes: Photographer Viktoras Dubinskas, 45, captured the scenes and estimated more than 50,000 wildebeest attempted to cross the river

River-crossing: The annual migration sees thousands of wildebeest move across the plains in search for new grazing opportunities

But as the thousands of wildebeest attempted to cross the Mara river, a smaller group of about ten zebras also made a bid to get to the other side, which left them fighting to make their way through the herd. 

Photographer Viktoras Dubinskas, 45, captured the scenes and estimated more than 50,000 wildebeest attempted to cross.

He decided to focus on the brave zebra, capturing a series of stunning shots as they battled their way across the river.

Many wildebeest were trampled to death but all of the zebras managed to survive the crossing.

One zebra was even dunked underwater for around 30 seconds but somehow managed to escape by biting the wildebeest before swimming to safety.

Mr Dubinskas, from Fuengirola, Spain, said: 'When I finished shooting my driver and I were left speechless.

Difficult crossing: One zebra was even dunked underwater for around 30 seconds but somehow managed to escape by biting the wildebeest before swimming to safety

Journey: The wildebeest have to make their way across the fast-flowing waters as part of their annual migration

Struggle: On this occasion a smaller group of about ten zebras also made a bid to get to the other side, which left them fighting to make their way through the herd

Mr Dubinskas, from Fuengirola, Spain, said: 'I've made more than 20 trips to the wild in Africa but nothing I have seen before can compare to this'

Mr Dubinskas said a number of the wildebeest were trampled to death as they tried to cross the river, although all of the zebras managed to survive

The photographer said: 'When one escaped from the mud by biting all wildebeest around in a panic it was like a miracle'

'I've made more than 20 trips to the wild in Africa but nothing I have seen before can compare to this.

'Shooting herds is never easy but when the zebra entered the river they gave us something to focus on.

'When one escaped from the mud by biting all wildebeest around in a panic it was like a miracle.' 

Pemberi maklumat ditawar RM96 juta

GAMBAR fail menunjukkan beberapa anggota keluarga menyentuh keranda pramugari MH17, Mastura Mustafa di Masjid Al Taqwa, Paroi Seremban pada 22 Ogos lalu.

BERLIN - Sebuah firma penyiasatan persendirian Jerman akan memberikan ganjaran sebanyak AS$30 juta (RM96.8 juta) kepada mana-mana individu yang memberikan maklumat berhubung dalang yang menembak jatuh sebuah pesawat Penerbangan Malaysia (MAS) di timur Ukraine, lapor portal berita The Local kelmarin.

Firma berkenaan, Wifka dalam satu kenyataan semalam memberitahu, wang ganjaran tersebut merupakan sumbangan beberapa individu yang dipercayai jutawan tetapi identiti mereka tidak didedahkan kepada media.

GAMBAR fail menunjukkan lokasi nahas pesawat MH17 dekat Grabovo, timur Ukraine pada 17 Julai lalu.

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Agensi penyiasat persendirian yang beribu pejabat di bandar Schleswig-Holstein, utara Jerman menyatakan, wang tersebut kini disimpan di Zurich, Switzerland milik beberapa orang pelanggannya.

Pesawat Boeing 777-200 itu terhempas dipercayai ditembusi dengan objek berkelajuan tinggi di wilayah timur Ukraine yang dikuasai pemberontak pro-Rusia pada 17 Julai lalu.
Seramai 298 penumpang dan anak kapal menaiki pesawat tersebut ketika ia ditembak jatuh di timur Ukraine.

Satu siasatan antarabangsa berhubung nahas itu masih diteruskan tetapi pada awalnya dihalang oleh kumpulan pemberontak pro-Rusia yang menguasai lokasi nahas dan dituduh bertanggungjawab menembak jatuh pesawat MH17.

Pada 10 September lalu, laporan awal nahas pesawat MH17 mendedahkan, ia berkecai di udara akibat ditembusi objek-objek berkelajuan tinggi.

Hyundai beli tanah 10.5 trilion won di Gangnam

PEMANDANGAN dari udara menunjukkan bangunan ibu pejabat KEPCO (tengah)
di ibu kota Korea Selatan, Seoul kelmarin.

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SEOUL - Perang bidaan antara dua gergasi industri Korea Selatan berakhir semalam apabila Hyundai mengetepikan Samsung untuk memiliki sebidang tanah di daerah elit Gangnam di sini pada harga 10.5 trilion won sekali gus urusniaga hartanah termahal di negara itu.

Tanah seluas 79,345 meter persegi (7.9 hektar) milik firma kerajaan Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) itu pada awalnya bernilai kira-kira 3.3 trilion won (RM9.6 bilion).

"Akhirnya, Hyundai yang merupakan pengeluar kereta utama di Korea Selatan membida 10.5 trilion won (RM32.3 bilion) atau AS$126,000 (RM407,036) untuk setiap 1 meter persegi," kata KEPCO dalam satu kenyataan.

Jumlah bidaan Samsung bagaimanapun tidak dedahkan.

Daerah elit Gangnam menjadi terkenal di seluruh dunia susulan kejayaan lagu Gangnam Style yang dinyanyikan oleh artis rap Korea Selatan, Psy. - AFP

Maths teacher captures massive 17ft anaconda

• Sebastien Bascoules captured the anaconda because it ate a friend's dog
• The 39-years-old described the catch as 'dream come true'
• He asked his friend to hold the snakes tail so it wouldn't 'strangulate me'
• After pulling it from the river his young children posed for pictures with it
• The anaconda was then stored overnight in the family bathtub

A maths teacher waded into a shallow river and captured a 17ft anaconda hours after it snatched his friend's dog from the bank.

Sebastien Bascoules, who lives in Matoury, French Guiana, hauled the 175lb snake onto land in nearby Montsinery, after a friend phoned him with news of his beloved pet, Minus.

Capturing a snake that size, the 39-year-old said, was  'a dream come true'.

Sebastien Bascoules, left, poses with the 17ft anaconda which he pulled from the river as his friends help lift the reptile to show how long it is

Mr Bascoules holds the head of the 175lb snake as his friend grips its tail - the maths teacher asked his friend to hold the reptile's tail so it wouldn't 'strangulate me'

The snake was kept in the Bascoules family's bath over night as Mr Bascoules said it was too late to re-home the reptile away from the residential area once they had captured it

Recalling the incident, Mr Bascoules said: 'At first I was not scared because I thought it was smaller - but I was very surprised by his strength and his length - more than five metres.

He added: 'Since I was 10 years old I have liked handling reptiles but this was the biggest snake I had ever seen and I had ever caught.'

Mr Bascoules asked his friend to help capture the anaconda, by grabbing its tail, 'otherwise it could strangulate me'.

But because it was still digesting the dog, Mr Bascoules said, it was  'very calm before I touched it'. 

Mr Bascoules, right, holds the anaconda's head as he and his friend drag it from a river in French Guiana

Onlookers gasp in amazement as Mr Bascoules' prized catch, which has now been blindfolded and restrained with a t-shirt, is captured on film

Mr Bascoules brave son, Mano, five, puts his ear to the belly of the beast

Mano crouches next to the giant reptile which is spread out across the lawn of his family home

Mr Bascoules holds the anaconda's tail as his children, from left, Noam, Solol and Mano, sit around the snake, and Michael Bascoules stands behind it, to complete the novel family photo

After blindfolding the wriggling reptile with a t-shirt Mr Bascoules put it in his bathtub to store over night - but not before his three children, Noam, 11, Solal, eight, and Mano, five, could pose for pictures with it. 

Mr Bascoules said by the time he had captured the snake, it was too late to re-home it away from the residential area, so he decided it could spend the night at his family home.

Not everyone was a fan of the house guest, he said: 'My wife was worried it might escape from the bathroom during the night.

He added: 'We didn't have to be worried because I put it a cloth on his head so it was blind and became like a big worm.'

Mr Bascoules said once the snake was blindfolded with a t-shirt it was turned into a 'giant worm'

Mr Bascoules, who has caught 15-20 anacondas, described capturing one this big as 'a dream come true'

The next day Mr Bascoules released the anaconda six miles away into a river close to swamps where the creatures are often found.

The incredible event unfolded last year but video of the remarkable capture and release exercise has only just emerged.

Mr Bascoules, originally from France, has lived in French Guiana for 15 years, and works part-time as a tour guide. He said he chose the area because of its fauna - particularly reptiles and amphibians.

Mr Bascoules said snakes were 'really common' in French Guiana, where there is 98 species.

Not surprisingly, this isn't the first time Mr Bascoules has captured an anaconda. He estimates he's caught 15-20.