Cristiano Ronaldo is closing in on an improved deal at Real Madrid - as he seeks greater parity with Lionel Messi.
Madrid’s superstar forward beat Barcelona’s magician to the Ballon d’Or last year.
And Ronaldo, 32, also played a major part in helping clinch the Champions League and La Liga titles for Zinedine Zidane’s side last season.
He has just under four years remaining on his current contract at the Bernabeu.
Ronaldo, though, is seeking not only a one-year extension but a significant pay increase.
The former Manchester United ace threatened to quit the club during the summer over his tax fraud allegations.
And now journalist Eduardo Inda reports Ronaldo is close to achieving his goal with Madrid president Florentino Perez.
" Cristiano Ronaldo will renew his contract with Real Madrid and will earn much more money than he has received to date," Inda told Spanish TV show El Chiringuito.
"He is negotiating with the club, his contract ends in 2021 and he wants until 2022, but the club prefers to keep it until 2021 and raise his salary."
"[Per year] he earns €22m (£19.5m) and is asking for about €30m (£27m). It can be closed at just under that figure."
Inda claims Ronaldo’s great obsession is to close in on Messi’s pay, who will remain ahead of the Portuguese.
On Ronaldo’s rival at Barcelona, Inda adds: “Messi earns €35m (£31m) plus €7m (£6m) in variables and then a premium of €10m (£9m) per contract season, which in total means for Barcelona (including taxes) about €110m (£98m)."
Spanish outlet Don Balon say Messi is expected to renew his own deal soon at the Nou Camp.
The 30-year-old continues to lead and have a huge influence in the team, scoring four times last night in a 6-1 La Liga triumph over Eibar in La Liga.