The summer of 2023 was once expected to open a new cycle for Manchester United with blockbuster deals like Harry Kane or Declan Rice. The reality is completely opposite when the Old Trafford team only brought in Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana and Mason Mount, and also faced countless difficulties in liquidating the force.
One of the biggest reasons lies in the salary policy. At that time, the contracts of many players stipulated that salaries would automatically increase by 25% if Man United qualified for the Champions League. This caused the team's salary fund to swell, while reducing the attractiveness of players in the transfer market.
Expensive lessons forced Man United's leadership to change the remuneration policy. According to the new mechanism, players are only entitled to a salary increase when playing at least 60% of the minutes of last season. Those who do not meet the conditions will keep the salary level unchanged, thereby helping the club easily liquidate if necessary.
Joshua Zirkzee is a typical example. The Dutch striker did not have enough playing minutes, so his salary was not increased, making him a more feasible target for teams like Juventus. Manuel Ugarte also fell into a similar situation before suffering a serious injury at the 2026 World Cup. During the break, about 80% of the Uruguayan midfielder's salary will be paid by FIFA under the player protection program.
Man United's philosophy is quite clear: only players who make significant contributions are entitled to higher benefits. This helps them save salary funds and create more financial space for transfer deals.
In fact, if the new regulations were applied earlier, cases like Donny van de Beek or Eric Bailly would not have become a burden. Bailly had to leave Old Trafford on a free transfer even though he still had a contract, while Van de Beek could hardly find a new destination because his salary was too high compared to his professional value.
Marcus Rashford is the clearest example of the consequences of the old mechanism. The English striker signed a new contract in 2023 before Man United changed their salary policy, so his income was still automatically increased by 25% after the team won a Champions League spot. Although last season he played on loan at Barcelona and did not contribute to M.U's performance, Rashford currently still receives more than £300,000 per week.
The huge salary has become a major barrier in the transfer process. Barcelona refused to activate a buyout clause worth 30 million Euros and switched to signing Anthony Gordon, causing Rashford to likely return to Carrington.
Andre Onana is also a noteworthy case. The Cameroonian goalkeeper received a salary increase even though he played for Trabzonspor on loan last season. Onana's increased income makes the Turkish team unable to share the financial burden as before.
In addition to Rashford and Onana, Mason Mount also benefits from the old salary mechanism. If the new regulations are applied, the English midfielder will not receive a salary increase because he only played about 30% of the minutes of the "Red Devils" last season. After three consecutive seasons affected by injuries, Mount is facing the opportunity to start over under Carrick when being tested in the central midfielder role in the pre-season period.
The change in salary and bonus policy shows that Man United is trying to overcome past mistakes. However, contracts signed under the old mechanism will still continue to create difficult problems for the Old Trafford team in the transfer market in the near future.
