As if things weren’t awful enough at Manchester United, it has now been discovered that the players, including superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo, are likely to lose a fourth of their salary. The wage cutbacks will be implemented as a result of the squad’s failure to finish in the top four of the Premier League, which means they have also failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stage.
Ralf Rangnick’s side are officially out of contention for one of the top four slots following their 4-0 loss to Brighton over the weekend. Manchester City and Liverpool now lead the table with 86 and 83 points, respectively. Chelsea and Arsenal are competing for third place, with the Blues having 67 points and the Gunners possessing 66.
Tottenham is in the fifth position with 62 points, with United behind by 4 points. However, the Red Devils have played two more games than the clubs ahead of them. Missing out on Champions League football also means the team will miss out on a significant amount of potential revenue.
According to Marca, the losses will be reflected in the pay of the players. As an example, Ronaldo’s weekly wages might be lowered from £385,000 to just £288,000, sparking suspicion that the Portuguese star could make another surprise transfer this summer.
However, few teams can afford Ronaldo, given both his salary and the money required by United to release him. If he is able to play for a team that is seeking trophies, the player may accept a wage reduction. He’s been linked with a return to the Santiago Bernabeu, but that could only happen if Kylian Mbappe stays in Paris.
With limited finances and no Champions League football, the club will also have problems acquiring new players. When new manager Eric ten Hag comes over next season, he will have his job cut out for him.
