Real Madrid on Thursday closed the most expensive football deal in history after paying a $130 million dollars to Manchester United for player Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Spanish club made the offer of $130 million to English Club Manchester United making the transfer for the Portuguese mid-fielder the most expensive ever.

The previous record was set by Real Madrid themselves after paying $109 million to Juventus for French player Zinedine Zidane in 2001.

United said on Thursday, At Cristiano's request, who has again expressed his desire to leave, and after discussion with the player's representatives, United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player.

Madrid confirmed on the club's Web site that it hoped to seal an agreement with Ronaldo in the coming days.

Real Madrid recently bought Brazilian player Kaka from AC Milan for $91 million.

With Kaka and Ronaldo, both winners of player of the year for the past two years, and two of the three most expensive transfer contracts in the history of football; the club seeks to become Europe’s best.

Football