This season, Manchester United's performance is gradually picking up, not only successfully winning the EFL Cup, but also advancing to the final of the EFL Cup, and is even expected to return to the European matches. According to media reports, Manchester United players are expected to receive a salary increase of up to 20% next season. However, this move does not seem to have any substantial benefits, and even seems to have missed the mark, why is that?
According to the Daily Mail, all players will receive a 20% pay rise if United succeed in regaining their UEFA Europa League qualification, with no exceptions for new signings, and even those who took a pay cut last year will have their original salaries restored.
But why is this a misguided move?An analysis by The Athletic reveals that United had taken a 25% pay cut for all players after losing out on UEFA Europa League qualification last season. A player earning £100,000 a week, for example, would have received just £75,000 after the pay cut. Now that the team is back in the UEFA Europa League, the players' salaries have risen by 20%, but the raise is only £90,000 a week, which is less than before the pay cut.
