A new pitch

Football is facing a financial quandary. Manchester City’s new cash-rich Abu Dhabi owners have suggested they may make a mind-boggling £135m bid for rival Manchester United’s superstar Cristiano Ronaldo when the transfer window opens again in the New Year. That’s nearly 80% more than the record £76m Real Madrid paid for Zinedine Zidane, back in 2001. Man Utd has long insisted Ronaldo isn’t for sale, but concedes such a sum would be difficult to ignore. Indeed, Abu Dhabi’s willingness to spend to...