Former Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest-earning footballer in the Italian Serie A with an annual salary of 31 million euros paid to him by Juventus, according to the print edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The Portugal international receives 31 times the salary pocketed by the best paid Nigerian player in Italy, Ola Aina.

According to the figures published, the Chelsea Academy product takes home one million euros (N392 million) every year, meaning he pockets approximately €19,230 per week.

Torino's top earners Belotti, Iago Falque, Izzo, Sirigu, Verdi and Izzo earn 700,000 euros more than Ola Aina.

Nigeria-eligible striker Stefano Okaka earns 300,000 euros less than Aina, with Udinese paying him €0.7m yearly.

The third best paid Nigerian player in the Italian top-flight is Super Eagles stand-in captain in the recent friendly against Ukraine, William Troost-Ekong who receives a salary of 400,000 euros.

Surprisingly the central defender is among the lowest earners at the Bianconeri, with only six first teamers Barak (0.3m), Ter Avest (0.3m), Perisan (0.3m), Nicolas (0.2m), Opoku (0.2m) and Sierralta (0.2m) earning less than the former Gent man.

The salaries only take into account the net pay, which is after tax is deducted by the Italian authorities.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel