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‘Cristiano Ronaldo money’ stopped Manchester United signing 22 goals in 19 games striker

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Manchester United take on Bayern Munich this week in the Champions League, with a slim chance of qualification for the knockout rounds.

Erik ten Hag‘s Manchester United must beat Bayern Munich, and then hope Galatasaray and Copenhagen play out a draw. There is just a six per cent chance of this happening.

Just beating Bayern will be difficult enough, especially with England international star Harry Kane leading the line.

Kane has struck 22 goals in 19 games for Bayern so far, with a further seven assists for good measure.

FC Bayern München v Manchester United: Group A - UEFA Champions League 2023/24
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images

Why Manchester United did not sign Harry Kane

Manchester United were strongly linked with a move for Harry Kane in the summer, before The Guardian reported in mid-June that the team had pulled out of the race.

United wanted players in early, had a limited budget, and assigned a high portion of it to a midfielder, Mason Mount, and a goalkeeper Andre Onana.

There were also concerns Spurs chairman Daniel Levy would refuse to sell, or drag it out until the very last minute.

The Mail reports there was another reason, with Harry Kane’s wages a big stumbling block.

Kane wanted Cristiano Ronaldo money

The report says: “There was the issue of Kane’s wages. ‘It was Cristiano Ronaldo money,’ says one source close to the deal. It’s understood that Kane’s salary in Munich is £500,000, including signing-on fee and bonuses.

“United considered it a lot of money for a player who turned 30 in the summer and would have little resale value at the end of his contract.”

Manchester United had just freed themselves from Cristiano Ronaldo‘s wages after his deal was terminated in late 2022.

However, with a high wage for Kane came guaranteed goals. And Manchester United could do with a few of them right now.