Manchester United are counting the financial cost of failing to qualify for the Champions League in 2024/25.
Winning the FA Cup qualified Manchester United into the Europa League. This at least softens the blow of missing out on Europe’s top continental competition.
A loss at Wembley against City would have mean United missing out on European football in 2024/25 altogether.
However, the Champions League is the most lucrative competition, and there is a financial impact for the players as a result of failing to finish inside the Premier League’s top four.
Manchester United wage cut
Manchester United pay wages among the highest in the Premier League. But all these deals contain a clause, dependent on the team playing Champions League football.
United failed to qualify for next year’s competition, and there are repercussions for the squad which could see them lose a percentage of their salaries.
TBR Football Finance Expert Adam Williams explains, telling United In Focus: “Under their existing structure, United players will still have step-down clauses in the contracts, although they will likely not be as steep as some of their peers.
“Even so, deductions could see the wage bill fall by anywhere from 15 to 25 per cent.
“For context, the club’s wage bill was £384m in 2021/22 but fell to £331m when they played in the Europa League rather than Champions League the following season.
“A deduction at the same rate this time around would see their wage bill drop to £285m.
“That would be roughly equal to what they paid to players in 2019/20, when they also competed in the Europa League.”
He adds with Manchester United now under the management of Ineos, the days of big flat salaries could be wound down.
“It has been widely reported that Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to move towards an incentive-based contract system rather than one that favours huge base wages.”
Using these figures, Marcus Rashford’s £300,000 per week wages, the Manchester United forward’s salary could call to between £255,000 per week (15 per cent cut) or to £225,000 per week (25 per cent cut), a substantial reduction.
Manchester United highest earners being cut
Manchester United have been making efforts in recent seasons to cut the high salaries at Old Trafford.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani and Paul Pogba were three players who commanded approximately £1 million per week combined on the wage bill.
The duo of Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial are set to be released this summer. The French duo earned more than £500,000 per week combined.
Casemiro is Manchester United’s current highest earner, and he could also be moved on this summer if United can find a buyer, with the team showing against City in the final that they can win the big games without him.
- READ MORE: Manchester United Player Wages 2023/24