Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Manchester United, Premier League, Europa League, Ruben Amorim, Cristiano Ronaldo
Ryan Smart
Topics: Manchester United, Premier League, Europa League, Ruben Amorim, Cristiano Ronaldo
A Manchester United star is set to receive a huge pay rise and match Cristiano Ronaldo's record should Ruben Amorim's side win the Europa League, it has been claimed.
United are currently in the semi-finals of Europe, and hold a 3-0 lead over Athletic Bilbao from the first leg in Spain on Thursday.
Should Amorim's side hold on to their lead at Old Trafford, they will take on either Spurs or Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League final, which is being held in Bilbao.
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Success in Europe is United's only chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season, as they currently sit in 15th place in the Premier League.
Amorim's focus is clearly on the Europa League as the Portuguese boss has fielded heavily-rotated squads domestically, with youngsters Tyler Fredericson, Harry Amass and Chido Obi all starting United's 4-2 defeat at Brentford on Sunday.
He will hope that policy will pay off come May with his first trophy as United manager.
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Should that achievement happen, one player in particular will be in line for a huge wage hike.
The Daily Star report that midfielder Casemiro will receive a 25 per cent wage increase as a result of United qualifying for the Champions League.
It is claimed that would hike his salary up to a staggering £500,000 per week, making him one of the Premier League's top earners and matching what Ronaldo was paid by the club during his second spell between 2021 and 2022.
The former Real Madrid midfielder has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford this summer on numerous occasions, though the 33-year-old has put in improved performances recently.
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It is reported that the wage agreement was made when Casemiro signed for the club in 2022, with United not in the Champions League for that season after a difficult campaign under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick.
United would then qualify for Europe's top club competition in Erik ten Hag's first season in charge but missed out on the top four last term, only reaching the Europa League via winning the FA Cup.
Should a wage rise occur, it would potentially put his future in less doubt, given that minority co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has spoken openly about how he believes some players are 'overpaid' by the Old Trafford hierarchy.
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And he named Casemiro as one of several players he and INEOS 'inherited' when they took minority control in 2024 that the club are still paying transfer instalments for.
Speaking to BBC Sport back in March, he stated: "It takes time for us to move away from the past into a new place in the future.
"Some [signings in recent years] are not good enough and some are overpaid. But for us to mould the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time."