Real Madrid has officially signed Cristiano Ronaldo on a six-year deal worth 93 million euros, the Spanish giant announced Friday. Former Manchester United forward Ronaldo is set to earn 13 million euros a year with Real, thus becoming the world's highest-paid footballer. A statement on the official website of Real Madrid said: “Real Madrid CF and Manchester United have signed the definitive agreement for the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo to the Spanish club on 1 July. “The player will stay at Real Madrid for six seasons.” Ronaldo's deal will see him move ahead of current soccer salary king, Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who currently earns 12 million euros a year. Ronaldo, 24, had been on around 7.5 million euros a year at Old Trafford. Portuguese international Ronaldo will officially become a Real player on July 1 and is set to be unveiled by the nine-time European champions on Monday July 6. Real Madrid has also reached a deal to sign Spain defender Raul Albiol from Valencia. Real Madrid said on its website Thursday that the transfer will go through next week after Albiol has passed a medical and signed a five-year contract. It said the 23-year-old defender will be presented next week. No details of the fee were given, but Spanish media reported on Wednesday that Madrid has agreed to pay Valencia $21 million for Albiol, who has been playing at the Confederations Cup in South Africa. African quota could rise FIFA President Sepp Blatter suggested Friday that the quota of African teams at World Cups could rise if they do well at the 2010 tournament next year. The continent has six teams participating at the event next year in South Africa for the first time, via five qualifying berths and one as the host country. In contrast, Europe has 13 slots. Following the encouraging performance by the South Africans at the Confederations Cup, where they pushed Brazil hard in their narrow 1-0 semi-final defeat on Thursday, Blatter said it would all depend on next year. “It will not be easy for an African team to win the World Cup because of the law of averages,” he said at a press conference. “To add more African teams will depend on the results of the African teams. “Next year they will have the advantage of playing at home in the ambiance we have here and Bafana Bafana (South Africa) confirmed against Brazil that they have improved after they almost pulled off a miracle. “Let's see what will happen next year. I will advocate for Africa, or another continent, when there are doing well in the World Cup.” Football legend Franz Beckenbauer, the Bayern Munich president, said that from what he had seen of the South African team at the Confederations Cup they had the opportunity to go far next year. “They almost beat Brazil, who are maybe the leading team in the world,” he said. “South Africa could have won. It was a perfect tactical game by them and if they can find a finishher then they could be one of the favourites at the World Cup.”
