Gary Neville has criticised Manchester United’s new ‘Ronaldo rule’ and highlighted summer Casemiro when making his point.
.png)
This week it emerged that United had enforced a squad-wide salary cap. The thinking is that it will avoid a culture of jealousy in the dressing room at Old Trafford and was quickly named after Cristiano Ronaldo, who recently left the club for a second time.
Although it is much less than what he is raking in over in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo was reportedly earning a whopping £515,38 per week in his second stint at United.
As a result, United had the highest wage bill in the history of the Premier League. But Erik ten Hag, director of football John Murtough and chief executive Richard Arnold have decided that £200,000-a-week will be the maximum a United player can earn.
Though it’s been praised as a positive step for squad harmony, former United skipper Neville called it a “radical policy”.
He feels as though it will price United out of any moves for stars like Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Declan Rice, who would all likely command wages in excess of the £200,000-a-week figure.
He then pointed out that the likes of Casemiro, Raphael Varane, David de Gea, Bruno Fernandes, Anthony Martial, Jadon Sancho are all said to above the cap currently.
“Not sure why any radical new policy is being introduced IF new owners are imminent,” Neville wrote in a series of tweets in response to the news.
“Capping wages is a radical policy. Rules out [Declan] Rice, [Jude] Bellingham and others in that bracket. Any new owners would probably want to enter the running for these types and probably [Kylian] Mbappe as well.”
“Seems a strange policy when you have Casemiro, and others on 350/400k for four more years in the dressing room.”
De Gea is believed to be on £375,000-a-week and is one of United’s top earners. Having racked up over 500 appearances, the Spaniard wants to continue playing for United and is prepared to take a hefty pay cut as part of a new contract.
Major blow for Man Utd and Arsenal as Premier League rivals agree to sign Felix
.png)
Chelsea have reached a verbal agreement to sign Manchester United and Arsenal target Joao Felix, according to a new report.
The news will come as a major blow to the teams who sit first and fourth in the Premier League respectively, who have both been heavily linked with signing the Atletico Madrid forward.
But a price tag of €21 million put off both sides over making a move immediately, with any loan deal only expected to run until the end of the season.
Reports have claimed that the relationship between Felix and Atletico boss Diego Simeone has deteriorated, but the forward did start Atletico’s 1-0 defeat to Barcelona on Sunday. However, he was substituted late on despite his team needing a goal.
Now, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Chelsea have now reached a verbal agreement to sign the Portuguese star on loan.
Chelsea reach ‘verbal agreement’ to sign Felix
Ornstein states that the Blues are likely to pay around €11 million to sign Felix on loan until the end of the season – a lower figure than previously quoted to Arsenal and United.
Whilst a deal is not yet done, it appears likely that Felix will be playing Premier League football in London for the rest of the season, with Sunday’s defeat to Barcelona looking set to be his last game for Atletico this term.
The Athletic claim that, should Felix move to Stamford Bridge, he will likely be followed by more additions in the attacking area of the pitch.
For United and Arsenal, it looks as if they may need to look at other options in attack – and Erik ten Hag’s side are reportedly close to sealing a loan move for Burnley forward Wout Weghorst.
SOURCE: sportbible.com
