The Times claim that the price was driven up after Jack
Walker Mark II stepped into the fray:
‘Sporting Lisbon were last night laughing all the way to the
bank as the Roman Abramovich financial revolution left
Manchester United with little option but to pay twice the
initial asking price to secure Cristiano Ronaldo, Sporting’s
18-year-old forward, for £12.24 million.
‘United, who also yesterday completed the £5.93 million
purchase of Kleberson, the Brazil midfield player, from
Atlético Paranaense on a five-year deal, had expected to
clinch Ronaldo’s signature for about £6.6 million after
agreeing a first option on the player as part of a
partnership deal arranged between the two clubs earlier this
year.’
The Grauniad look at the amount of money that goes to the
agents involved, in this case one third of the fee.
‘Nevertheless, it was to widespread surprise that the
champions announced that the signing from Sporting Lisbon
had cost €17.35m, particularly as Ronaldo would have become
a free agent in a year. To put it in context, Sporting were
willing to sell Ricardo Quaresma, their outstanding 19-year-
old winger who is ranked ahead of Ronaldo in terms of
development, to Barcelona for €6m earlier this summer.
‘Ronaldo's transfer also highlights how much money does not
get recycled into the game. It is understood Sporting will
receive only two-thirds of the transfer fee, with the
remainder - in United's words, "associated costs" - being
shared among Ronaldo's advisers.’