Casemiro in trouble as Ratcliffe tells Man Utd to get tough on high earners

Stuart Telford

• 25 Feb 2024 12:49 GMT
• 3 min read

Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to introduce a bonus-led salary structure now that his minority investment in Manchester United has been completed.

Ratcliffe, previously the UK's richest man, has paid the Glazers £1.3 billion for a 25 per cent stake in the club, one that will give him 'sporting control' at Old Trafford.

One of the INEOS boss's first moves has been to acquire CEO Omar Berrada from cross town rivals Manchester City, and he wants the Spaniard to bring some of the structures in place at the Etihad with him.

First among those is a salary structure that will see players only earn the big bucks if they are successful.

"Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to get tough with Manchester United's highest earners by introducing a bonus-led pay structure…" reports The Mirror's Simon Mullock.

— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) February 5, 2023

'Spiralling wage bill'

"Ratcliffe made it his mission to bring United's spiralling wage bill under control when he was given access to the club's books during talks over his £1.3 billion buy-in."

The report goes on to state that United's wage bill was just over £330 million in November. This was some way short of City's £400m, but Pep Guardiola's side made £300m back in prize money alone last season.

Casemiro is United's highest earner on £18.2m a year, with Raphael Varane (£17.7m) and Marcus Rashford (£15.6m) completing the top three.

Ratcliffe was publicly critical of United's decision to sign Casemiro from Real Madrid for around £80m the summer before last, the Brazilian approaching his 30th birthday, and he has been proven right with the midfielder's performances in decline.

It could take a number of years for United to fully enact Ratcliffe's new policy, however, with existing contracts not including the same degree of performance-related pay.

A fire sale next summer could assuage that, however, and Casemiro is far from the only player who could be shown the Old Trafford exit door.