Cristiano Ronaldo Put up as Collateral

A Spanish bank has offered up the most expensive soccer player in history for a loan from the ECB.

As Spain’s credit rating is set to plummet, the aptly named Spanish banking group Bankia has put up Cristiano Ronaldo as collateral for a loan from the European Central Bank. The world’s most expensive soccer player, along with Brazilian midfielder Kaka, has been put up as a security after Bankia loaned Real Madrid €76.5m to add the duo to their team. This means that if both Real Madrid and Bankia default on their repayments, the ECB in Frankfurt will take possession of the pair. Fellow ECB members may not get such a kick out of the deal, which could easily finance another Real Madrid victory over its rivals.