CRISTIANO RONALDO UNHAPPY WITH REAL MADRID PAY DEAL

Despite firing Real Madrid 10 points clear at the top of La Liga and bagging 37 goals in 36 games this season, Cristiano Ronaldo is apparently still not happy.

Spanish daily Sport claims the Portuguese superstar, who became the most expensive player ever when he joined Madrid from Manchester United in an £80million deal in 2009, is unhappy with his current contract at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The 27-year-old's deal with Madrid included a clause stating that he must be the highest paid player in world football, which up until last summer was the case, before Samuel Eto'o sealed his £300,ooo-a-week move to big-spending Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala.

As a result Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes, is understood to have raised the issue with Madrid officials during negotiations over Pepe's new contract earlier this season, where he received guarantees the club would address the situation

However, no new deal has been forthcoming which, coupled with Ronaldo's uneasy relationship with Madrid fans after he was jeered earlier this season, has led to speculation of a return to the English Premier League this summer.

Ronaldo has been at pains to express that he is happy in the Spanish capital and said even hinted on a visit to Dubai at the end of last year that he would be willing to remain with Madrid until the end of his career. Whether that now remains the case remains to be seen.

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Player Ratings: Rayo Vallecano 0-1 Real Madrid

 Real Madrid CF

Iker Casillas

63

7

6.5

Marcelo

54

7

6.0

Sergio Ramos

Flop of the Match

41

61

4.5

Pepe

53

9

6.0

Lucky to get away with a stamp on Piti early in the game as the negative aspect to his play appeared once again. Given problems by the pace and movement of Armenteros, Michu and Diego Costa but made one great second-half intervention and was more solid than his central defensive partner.

Arbeloa

32

19

5.0

A tidy game on the whole but he doesn't offer enough going forward and Madrid missed an attacking full-back down the right-hand side. He was turned easily by Piti as well and will have been happy to see his rival's rifled effort rebound against the post.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Top of the Match

171

26

7.5

The pick of the bunch for his side once more and eventually made the difference with a quite stunning backheeled effort as he improvised with his back to goal. Came close to another when he lashed into the side netting and tested Joel with a fierce free-kick as well.

Xabi Alonso

40

16

5.5

Less involved than usual as Madrid struggled in the centre of the park. Unable to find his usual range of passing and was guilty of losing the ball at times. Worked hard for the entire 90 minutes and looked more comfortable in a midfield three late on.

Kaká

56

49

4.5

It's either good or bad from the Brazilian of late and this was very much the latter as he struggled to make any impact at all. Unable to pick out Higuain's runs, offered little defensively and looked both slow and sluggish. Replaced on the hour.

Sami Khedira

51

8

6.0

Worked hard defensively and provided much-needed support for his back four, but didn't do much positive work with the ball. His exaggerated reaction (he may have fallen awkwardly) saw Michu sent off late on when it wasn't even a foul.

Mesut Özil

55

23

5.5

Ozil had little joy after wasting a good opportunity early on, when he had been set up by Marcelo. Worked hard but was lacking his usual trickery and the game passed him by much of the time.

Gonzalo Higuaín

30

33

5.0

A willing runner, but he didn't look sharp. Made a mess of a one-on-one with Joel early on as he delayed and was forced wide by the Rayo defence. Beaten to another ball by the goalkeeper in the second half and drifted offside too often. Disappointing.

• Substitutions

Fabio Coentrao

38

9

5.5

Came on and tucked in at left-back as Marcelo moved forward. Defended bravely and worked tirelessly as Madrid were left hanging on at the end.

Esteban Granero Molina

30

10

5.0

Came on for the last 10 minutes to close up the midfield as Marcelo made way.

Callejón

38

9

5.5

Looked lively a

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Cristiano Ronaldo: "Everyone was surprised by my heel shot goal because no one expected it"

"It was a messy game, especially in the opening minutes, because neither team had control of it. The coach spoke to us during half-time and we concentrated harder. We're very proud of the job we did because these three points will help us win the title."

"I didn't even think when I scored. I just hit the ball with my heel and therefore surprised the defenders and the goalkeeper. I hit it strongly enough so they couldn't stop it. It gave us the victory, so it's worth twice us much to us."

"We shouldn't focus on what others do so long as we do our job right."

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Cristiano Ronaldo refuses to rule out Manchester United return Cristiano Ronaldo refuses to rule out Manchester United return

The Portugal international star is determined to break his own league goalscoring record and stated that a move back to the Premier League giants is a possibility

Cristiano Ronaldo has refused to rule out the possibility of a return to Manchester United in the future.The Portugal international broke the world record transfer fee in 2009, when he joined Madrid from Manchester United in a €94 million deal after helping the Red Devils to win three Premier League titles and one Champions League crown, among other trophies.Spanish TV show Punto Pelota found out that Rio Ferdinand had uploaded a video of a short conversation with the 27-year-old after Madrid's 4-0 victory against Racing Santander on Saturday to an iPhone application.Questioned by his former team-mate on a return to Old Trafford, Ronaldo said: "You never know, my friend."The former Sporting Lisbon talent also stated that he is determined to break the record for the most Primera Division goals in a single season, which he holds after netting 40 times in the competition in 2010-11.

"Will I break my record? Of course, man," he said.

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'Current Real Madrid team better than the Galacticos' - Sevilla coach Michel

The former Blancos star reckons Jose Mourinho's men are an improvement from the infamous side of the early 2000s, but stresses they must win trophies to prove their superiority

Sevilla coach Michel has claimed that the present Real Madrid team are stronger than the Galacticos side under the leadership of Vicente del Bosque.

The current Spain boss presided over a glittered four-year spell in the capital between 1999 and 2003, winning two La Liga titles and two Champions League trophies with the likes of Raul, Zinedine Zidane, Figo and Ronaldo at his disposal.

However, the 48-year-old Michel, who spent the majority of his playing career at Madrid, is of the opinion the current squad assembled by Jose Mourinho has the potential to better the team that once reigned supreme a decade ago.

"On paper, maybe [the current team] is more spectacular, but Zidane, Ronaldo, Figo, Hierro, Roberto Carlos and Raul are players in the history of Real Madrid and the history of world football," Michel was quoted as saying by AS.

But despite acknowledging their improvements, Michel posed the reminder that Mourinho's men must now start picking up more silverware if they are to be remembered as a great Madrid team in the future.

"They have to win things, as their predecessors won La Liga titles and Champions Leagues," he added. "They must continue the cycle, even though they are stronger on paper." 

Madrid are currently 10 points clear at the Liga summit with 15 games to play, while they remain in the hunt for the Champions League, having drawn 1-1 with CSKA Moscow away from home in the first leg of their last 16 tie on Tuesday.

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Mourinho hints his Real Madrid future does not depend on winning the Champions League

The ex-Chelsea boss stated that his decisions to leave Porto and Inter were not prompted by European triumph, and added that his team will continue to give their all in La Liga

Jose Mourinho has made it clear that his Real Madrid future is not contingent on winning the Champions League.

After claiming Europe's most coveted trophy with both Porto and Inter, Mourinho left each side almost immediately, but has revealed that neither decision was a result of his success in the tournament."With Porto, I left because I thought it was the time to leave - I had other ambitions, and with Inter I [had] decided to leave before the final," he revealed to TVE.

Despite Mourinho's illustrious history in the Champions League, the former Chelsea boss has now revealed that his priority remains victory in the domestic league.

"For me, the league, in its conception, is so important because the best team always wins it. In the Champions League, the team that wins is not always the best.

"When you win the league, it's very good for a coach's self-esteem, because he knows he has done well throughout the year."

The 49-year-old also had a word on his team's clash against CSKA Moscow on Tuesday, stating that his players have to do their best to cope with the adverse weather conditions.

"The cold cannot influence us. It's not fair to be playing in these temperatures, but players' mentality will have to draw strength from their mentality.

"We have to be head-strong, and when we are, the group is united and has ambition."

Finally, Mourinho revealed that his side were going to continue fighting in La Liga, despite their hefty 10-point advantage over second-placed Barcelona.

"In the championship, I will not give away one iota and we'll play every game as though we were level on points with Barcelona.

"The proof of this is that two or three days before the game in Moscow, I played with everyone against Racing."

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Player Ratings Real Madrid CF 4-0 Racing

 Real Madrid CF

Iker Casillas 5.5

Pepe             6.0

Sergio Ramos 6.0

Marcelo    6.5

Raphaël Varane 6.0

Kaká  7.5

Mesut Özil  5.5

Esteban Granero 6.5

Xabi Alonso 6.5

Cristiano Ronaldo 6.5

Karim Benzema 7.0

• Substitutions 

Ricardo Carvalho 5.5

Sami Khedira  6.0

Ángel Fabián Di María 7.5

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