Cristiano Ronaldo is building a pergola on the roof of his £6.5 million Portuguese penthouse

Cristiano Ronaldo has received permission to build a pergola on the roof of his £6.5 million Portuguese penthouse.

Ronaldo, 38, replaces a thorn in the side of a gazebo on the roof that he was ordered to tear down by the Lisbon City Council.

Council bosses said he had to remove the controversial glass structure after discovering it had been built without planning permission.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who left Manchester United under a cloud for the Saudi Al-Nassr, now has until July to put the new pergola in place.

Ronaldo’s sprawling penthouse in central Lisbon, next to the capital’s Eduardo VII Park, became the most expensive property in the country’s history when he bought it in July 2018.

Ronaldo, 38, replaces an ‘eyesore’ rooftop gazebo he was told to tear down by Lisbon City Council

The 3,100-square-foot, three-bedroom apartment where he had to take down his gazebo would contain a spa, pool, gym, and three master bedrooms

But his purchase was overshadowed by the extraordinary row over the gazebo, which ended in the block’s architect, Jose Mateus, threatening legal action against the star.

Mr Mateus was furious that Ronaldo built the gazebo on the roof, making the building exceed the maximum legal height.

In a blistering outburst, Mateus accused Ronaldo of ‘scoring an own goal’ and ‘dishonoring his work’.

Even Cristiano’s sister Elma Aveiro waded into the line, berating critics who “think they can tell us what to do in our own house.” His other sister, former singer Katia Aveiro who now lives in Brazil, ranted: “Do we Portuguese deserve you?”

There is no official comment yet from Ronaldo or his representatives. Photos and video footage of the last removal of the gazebo have been published in the Portuguese press.

Lisbon City Hall appeared to confirm in May that the gazebo had been built illegally without permission, when planning chiefs announced an investigation and requested submissions from Ronaldo and his advisers to justify what had happened.

The former penthouse of the Manchester United and Real Madrid star in the capital is part of a property empire that includes a £6 million mansion on a fortress estate outside Madrid called La Finca and a seven-storey apartment block in Madeira’s capital Funchal, where his mother and older brother Hugo lives.

He and his partner Georgina Rodriguez, whose hit Netflix show I Am Georgina returns for a second series in March, are currently building a massive family home in Quinta da Marinha on the Portuguese Riviera, half an hour’s drive from Lisbon.

It is believed that the gazebo was built in place of a swimming pool and lounging area that appeared on draft models before the property was sold

Two years ago, Ronaldo’s interior designers reportedly had to call in a crane to get a giant new bed in the master bedroom as part of a makeover

He and his partner Georgina Rodriguez, whose hit Netflix show I Am Georgina returns for a second series in March, are currently building a giant family home on Quinta da Marinha.

The 3,100-square-foot, three-bedroom apartment where he had to take down his gazebo would contain a spa, pool, gym, and three master bedrooms.

Two years ago, Ronaldo’s interior designers reportedly had to call in a crane to get a giant new bed in the master bedroom as part of a makeover.

The gazebo would have been built in place of a swimming pool and lounge area that appeared on design mockups before the property was sold.

A Ronaldo representative has been approached for comment.