Ed Woodward contributed to the disaster the Glazers created at Manchester United with their new contract decisions, but Ineos can start a new trend with their initial choices.
Ed Woodward and the Glazers took the wrong approach with contracts at Manchester United (Image: Getty Images)
You can only image what the billionaire businessman thinks of a company that generates such a pitiful return from employment expenditures. Sir Jim Ratcliffe once called Manchester United the “dumb money” in sports.
Over the past 10 years, a team’s pay bill has been one of the most reliable indicators of success in football, even more so than transfer spending; nonetheless, United has made every effort to defy the pattern. Despite having the greatest salary budget in the Premier League the previous season, Capology claims they were only able to finish eighth on the pitch.
Erik ten Hag would blame injuries and the fact that millions of pounds were lost while players were confined to the treatment room, although United has long been at the top of the pay scale. But they haven’t won the Premier League title in the previous 11 years. The weekly investment in players hasn’t yielded the anticipated yield.
Despite having a smaller roster than Manchester City, United’s anticipated weekly pay expenditure is £3.9 million, or almost £100,000 more than that of the Blues. This information is based on data from the previous season. In any case, there is a noticeable difference.
Not only have United overpaid, but they also developed a soft spot for renewals under the Glazers’ leadership and Ed Woodward’s decision-making. Woodward believed that his method preserved value, but in reality, it only permitted some players to let their guard down, and some of those contracts became unmanageable when the players were unable to be traded. It gave mediocrity a reward.
On that front, Ineos is eager to alter the strategy and storyline. Although it was obvious to let Anthony Martial go this summer, it was sense to play hardball with Raphael Varane before allowing the World Cup winner go. When healthy, the 31-year-old is still one of the best central defenders in the world, but his infrequent availability and expensive contract would be better used elsewhere.
Levelling up salaries across the team will be Ineos’s next task. The fact that Casemiro and Marcus Rashford, the team’s two highest earners, had such a difficult season is regrettable for them. Value for money was also lacking.
During this window, Ineos will be eager to offload Casemiro rather than paying him for the final two years of his deal. They are hoping that the Saudi Pro League will show more interest.
In Rashford’s case, a 30-goal season preceded his new contract, although it seems to be the exception more than the rule. This season, he hasn’t performed like a player worthy of that type of pay, and he hasn’t lived like a player on that kind of contract either.
Manchester United got contracts wrong under the Glazers but Ineos have already started to change that
Given that the 26-year-old still has four years left on his deal, it seems sense that United would consider trading him. He turns into an expense if he doesn’t promptly regain his form.
Having two underperforming players at the top of the compensation scale presents another challenge for Ineos since it can lead to dissatisfaction among the team. Nobody can look at that group and argue Bruno Fernandes shouldn’t be the highest paid player, but there is no indication that is the case for Fernandes, who is arguably the best team member in this bunch.
There is interest in him, and he has been connected to a departure this summer. He has been having a great start to Euro 2024 and was evasive when asked about his future at the end of the season.
Although he now has two years left on his contract with the option of a third, it seems probable that he will want a new one if he decides to stay with the team. This means he will remain at Old Trafford until 2027, but given his track record and contributions, he deserves maybe one more payday.
If the captain is still at Old Trafford, negotiations over that agreement may take place later this year. Ineos will be cautious to create a precedent. But Fernandes earned that contract via his performances, and Ineos ought to be eager to follow suit.
If you play well every time, you’ll get rewarded. If you don’t do it, you won’t be. It would be wise to start by giving Fernandes a contract commensurate with his standing as the team’s best player.
