Ineos are not too popular right now at Manchester United after a series of controversial decisions.
The part-owners of the football club have been clearing house in the opening year in charge of the footballing side.
Manchester United have undergone a drastic change behind the scenes, completely overhauling the decision-makers at the club with the likes of Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox now the king-makers at the club.
However, off the field fans have been less than impressed with decisions around non-playing staff and the United Foundation which quite frankly did leave a sour taste. Ticket price rises are another way Ineos have upset fans and also Paul Scholes.
On-the-field decisions such as organising a United post-season tour purely for financial means have also left fans not in full trust of the club.
Now, decisions involving the players are at the forefront of debate.
READ: All Manchester United player wages for the 2024/25 season, Ranked
Omar Berrada will not hand out silly contracts
Over the past day, reports have been emerging that Ineos won’t rule out selling anybody for the right price, even Kobbie Mainoo.
It is a move Sir Jim Ratcliffe would not easily be forgiven for, however, in the same reports, it claimed that Mainoo’s contract talks were stalling, as the 19-year-old demanded £200,000-a-week in wages.
This is unlikely to be true, but in the event it was United are unlikely to consider giving in to the demands, with CEO Omar Berrada’s stance already clear from his time at Manchester City.
Speaking in 2022 on City’s YouTube channel, Berrada’s view on wages was clear.
“And we know that when you win you have the pressure from players and agents where they’re always asking for more salary. And you need to resist, right? To maintain the balance of keeping players because of their on-pitch performance, but at the same time we also need to maintain a structure and stability.”
Continuing, Berrada explained further that wages must be proportional to performance.
“We’re high up but in the end, we’re sitting fourth in Europe. So above us are United; Barca which, well they’re now cleaning house and lowering [salaries] a little bit; PSG have gone up due to the signing of Messi. Of course, Messi, Neymar, Mbappe, Sergio Ramos, Wijnaldum.
“And the other thing I would mention is that, in the end, what we need to look at is how much this represents versus the revenues. And we’ve always maintained ourselves at 60-61 per cent. Which in the end is what the industry requires in order to be a sustainable club, 55-65 per cent. And we’ve kept ourselves between these levels.”
Manchester United must create strict wage structure
While harsh, this stance on contracts from United is long overdue and if implemented earlier we would not be in such a messy situation – despite how it may annoy players.
United boasts one of the biggest wage bills in the Premier League with the vast majority coming from players who are surplus to requirements or are expected to be on the shortlist to leave this year.
Manchester United earners who are likely to leave
| Player | Wages per week |
| Casemiro | £350,000 |
| Marcus Rashford | £300,000 |
| Mason Mount | £250,000 |
| Antony | £200,000 |
| Christian Eriksen | £150,000 |
| Luke Shaw | £150,000 |
| Victor Lindelof | £120,000 |
| Tyrell Malacia | £75,000 |
| Jonny Evans | £65,000 |
| Tom Heaton | £45,000 |
| Total | £1,705,000 |
Most of these are transfer failings which Ineos are now paying the price for despite not being involved – but for example with Rashford, a big money deal saw his form falter and he never looked the same player.
So it would be understandable that United may be hesitant to offer Mainoo a big money deal – however, we imagine an agreement will be reached around the £100,000-a-week mark considering he has to be earning more than the likes of Evans or Tyrell Malacia.
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