Man Utd takeover: Cristiano Ronaldo conversations held as Sheikh Jassim plans to abolish strict Ten Hag plan
Prospective new Manchester United majority shareholder Sheikh Jassim has plans to call time on the club’s shortlived wages plan brought into place in the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit, according to a report.
The Red Devils could finally be in the hands of new owners after 18 years of largely-turbulent ownership. Indeed, when the Glazer family announced in November that they were open to the club’s sale, or – at least, new investment – few would have thought the saga would still be unresolved six months later.
However, an end will soon be in sight, with the Glazers ready to pocket a massive increase on their initial £790m purchase.
The two leading bidders to take charge, whomever ends up winning, plan to spend enormous amounts to acquire control.
To that end, Sheikh Jassim’s Qatari-led offer will be worth £5.5bn, with significant funds promised for team strengthening. To that end, a report on Wednesday outlined plans to make a €100m-rated Real Madrid star the first signing of his era.
Sheikh Jassim also plans to wipe out United’s £500m debts and invest in a further redevelopment of Old Trafford.
However, the rival offer on the table, from Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS company, is said to total £6bn. And as part of the plan, Ratcliffe plans to allow Joel And Avram Glazer to retain a minority stake in the club.
A decision on the preferred bidder is likely to emerge in a matter of days from the Raine Group, who are overseeing the sale.
However, if Sheikh Jassim’s bid proves successful, it seems significant plans are being drawn up to shake up the United applecart.
READ MORE ~ Ten Hag savages Chelsea over transfer waste as Sir Jim Ratcliffe takeover bid is destroyed in French media
Ronaldo Man Utd decision to be reversed by Sheikh Jassim
Indeed, a decision to terminate Ronaldo’s contract at United was taken in the same month the club was put up for sale.
The veteran superstar’s decision to publicly criticise the club in a TV interview with Piers Morgan left United with little other choice.
He has since moved to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, although his stint in the Middle East could also prove shortlived.
In the wake of Ronaldo’s damning interview, there was plenty written at the time about the damage done towards the club. And there were plenty who felt, that given his record £500,000 a week earnings at Old Trafford, Ronaldo should have put up and shut up.
After all, as a (extremely well paid) employee of the club, he is under obligation not to publicly chastise them in the manner in which he did.
As a consequence, Erik ten Hag decided upon Ronaldo’s exit to enforce a new rule that caps the amount United’s top earners can be paid. To that end, United’s top pay limit is now said to be £200,000 a week.
That is the salary reportedly enjoyed by the likes of Casemiro and Raphael Varane, having also been offered to Marcus Rashford.
It is also the reason why David De Gea will have to accept a drastic reduction on his £350,000 a week wages if he is to stay beyond this summer.
And under Ten Hag’s plans, he wanted to end the culture of jealousy he feels existed in his squad due to the discrepancies in pay.
However, Sheikh Jassim reportedly wants to abolish the plan and go against Ten Hag should his party prove the successful bidder.
Indeed, the Qataris have ambitious plans to attract some of the game’s biggest names to the club as a result.
Sheikh Jassim wants Kylian Mbappe transfer for Man Utd
To that end, the Daily Mirror claims they have ambitions of bringing Kylian Mbappe to Old Trafford next summer.
The PSG superstar will become a free agent in summer 2024, amid claims he will not sign an extension to his PSG deal.
On the free market, the star can sign for a club of his choosing. He would also be able to collect wages even beyond the current £600,000 a week he earns in Paris.
Put simply, a £200,000 a week wages package would go nowhere near able to tempt Mbappe.
As a result, the Sheikh wants to bring a rapid end to Ten Hag’s rule change and abolish the wages cap put in place.
Reacting to the ‘Ronaldo rule’, Gary Neville was baffled by a policy Ten Hag brought in.
“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. 200k won’t get you Rice or Bellingham let alone Mbappe!”
United are also reportedly tracking Mbappe’s PSG teammate Neymar, who is also due to leave the French capital. However, links to him appear to stem from his representatives, rather than of United’s own choosing.
Nonetheless, Ten Hag could not resist a cheeky quip when questioned about the Brazilian on Wednesday.
Should Sheikh Jassim’s bid prove successful, he could find himself on an early collision course with Ten Hag on the club’s wages structure.
And reports claim the Sheikh will communicate this plan to Ten Hag early in his regime should he take charge.
