Manchester United stars set for 25 per cent wage cut after Brighton thrashing

Ronaldo's weekly wages could drop from £385,000 to around £288,000

Several Manchester United players are set to be hit with a salary reduction after the Red Devils failed to qualify for the Champions League next season. United can no longer finish in the Premier League top four this campaign following their 4-0 thrashing at Brighton on Saturday evening, which will have financial consequences because of the way the Old Trafford club structure their player contracts.

United to cut wages to 'protect the club from drop in revenue'

As reported by the Daily Mail, up to a quarter of wages are taken away from players if the Red Devils fail to qualify for Europe's elite club competition. It adds that the reason for this is to protect the club from the drop in revenue that occurs as a result of not qualifying. Given that United will not be playing Champions League football next season, the club will earn significantly less in prize money and broadcast revenue than they will if they end of playing in the UEFA Europa League or UEFA Europa Conference League next campaign.

Ronaldo and De Gea amongst club's highest earners

Cristiano Ronaldo is therefore set for a reduction in his weekly wages that will see them drop from £385,000 to around £288,000 - should he remain at the club, that is. It would reportedly be the lowest salary the 37-year-old has earned in a number of years. Ronaldo accepted a substantial pay cut from the £500,000-a-week he made at Juventus in order to re-join the Red Devils last summer. David de Gea - the club's second-highest earner - faces a reduction in his weekly wage from £375,000-a-week to around £281,000-a-week.

Red Devils stars able to 'negotiate for a lesser reduction'

United's players are able to negotiate for a lesser reduction, however, the club has made no attempt to hide this policy, with wage reductions featuring in their annual results. The Daily Mail add that the maximum prize money available in the Champions League for the 2021/22 season is £71.66million, with the winners set to pocket £16.83m. However, the exact figures do depend on the value of the TV market. In contract, the maximum the Europa League winner can receive is £16.22m, with the winners receiving £7.23m.

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