Fresh reports from the UK says that all players of Manchester United will lose N6.3bn (£14million) in salaries if the club fails to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season.
According to investigations by The Times UK, and reported by The Sun UK on Saturday, Manchester United stars will be forced to take a mega £14million pay cut if they fail to qualify for Europe’s elite league championship.
“…failure (to pick a Champions League spot) would also cost the club’s top players dear — as they would have to stomach a huge slash in their pay next season.
“The £14m figure works out at roughly £500,000 (N225m) PER PLAYER.”
Already, Memphis Depay is in line for a N585m (£1.3m) fall in his wages alone.
According to the report in The Times on Saturday, United players sign to a two-level payment structure when they agree a contract with the club.
All players receive a lower “standard” wage packet which is then upped to the “standard plus” rate when they qualify for the Champions League.
United introduced the scheme when Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, fearing the side may no longer be guaranteed a top four place every year — as has proved to be the case.
The Sun UK notes that inconsistent form has left Louis van Gaal’s big-earners scrapping with Manchester City for fourth spot in the Premier League this season.
United travel to title-chasing Tottenham tomorrow knowing that defeat would leave it four points adrift of its neighbours, if Manuel Pellegrini’s side win at home to West Brom on Saturday.
Missing out of a place with Europe’s elite would be a bitter blow for a side whose revenues and wage bill dwarf many continental and domestic rivals.
Van Gaal, 64, would almost certainly be axed by Old Trafford bigwigs, with Jose Mourinho already waiting in the wings to take over.
