Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid lined up for Hong Kong 20th anniversary reunification celebrations

Hong Kong fans will be able to watch the world’s best player, Cristiano Ronaldo, in the flesh this summer if a €4 million (HK$32.4 million) deal to bring La Liga heavyweights Real Madrid to the city works out.

To mark the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s reunification with China, the government is splashing out cash to bring some of the world’s leading sports personalities and teams to Hong Kong in 2017.

Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo named the 2016 Ballon d’Or winner

These include the Galacticos, who boast four-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, James Rodriguez as well as French manager and Real legend Zinedine Zidane.

“We are very keen to get the Spanish giants to Hong Kong and have made several contacts with Real,” said a source. “The response is quite positive and hopefully we can finalise the deal as soon as possible.

“This summer is going to be a soccer spree with the EPL Asia Trophy also taking place in Hong Kong in late July. Real Madrid last visited Hong Kong over a decade ago but since then all their players have changed.

“Now Cristiano Ronaldo has become the most important player in the team and we will definitely request his presence in Hong Kong along with all their other marquee players. It’s definitely going to be another thrilling experience for the fans.”

The Portugal international visited Macau in 2007 with Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson and the striker’s appearance in Hong Kong will be a major selling point for fans because of his charismatic presence on and off the pitch.