Manchester United will be having relief on their yearly wages after parting ways with some of the highest earners at the club this window.
According to data from Capology, United had an annual wage bill of just under £215million in 2021-22 but five players have already announced that they’ll be leaving the club this summer. So who are these players who were on huge wages?
Pogba was on a £290,000-a-week contract during his second spell at the club. The player will be leaving this summer and has been linked with a return to Juventus.
In these years, the Frenchman got £15.08million a year and United triggered the one-year extension in his contract, taking his total earnings at Old Trafford to £90.48million. He’ll also receive a £3.75million loyalty bonus when his contract expires at the end of the month.
- Edinson Cavani-£13,000,000
The Uruguayan who had injury issues at United arrived at Old Trafford in the summer of 2020 on a free transfer. He signed an initial one-year deal at the club and became their joint fourth-highest earner on £200,000-a-week.
Cavani was reportedly keen on a return to his native South America in 2021 but United bumped his salary up to £250,000-a-week to persuade him to remain at the club for another season. The Red Devils are probably regretting that decision as a series of injuries limited Cavani to just two goals in 20 appearances in 2021-22.
Mata, who joined United from Chelsea in a £37.1million deal in January 2014, has publically admitted that footballers are paid too much.
The former Spain international received £140,000-a-week from United during 2021-22 but started just two Premier League games over the course of the season. Mata is reportedly open to joining another Premier League side at the end of his United contract and has also been linked with a move to MLS.
- Nemanja Matic-£6,240,000
Matic reunited with Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford in 2017 and joined United in a £40million deal.
The midfielder, who earned £120,000 a week, was initially one of the first names on the team sheet at United but has become a bit-part player in recent years. He penned a two-year contract extension in the summer of 2020 and there was an option to extend it by one more year. But Matic has opted not to exercise the option and will leave this summer, saving United £6.24million in wages.
- Jesse Lingard-£3,900,000
Lingard joined United at the Under-9 level in 2001 and worked his way through the academy, making his senior debut under Louis van Gaal in August 2014.
After scoring in the 2016 FA Cup final and 2017 League Cup final, he was rewarded with a new four-year contract in April 2017 and received a wage of £75,000-a-week. United triggered the one-year extension option in his deal before allowing him to join West Ham on a six-month loan deal in January 2021. He has been linked with a chunk of clubs this summer as he will be leaving as a freebie.
Grant who will be retiring from football at the end of the month joined United from Stoke City in the summer of 2018 and became their third-choice goalkeeper behind David de Gea and Sergio Romero.
He made just two first-team appearances for the Red Devils, coming off the bench in an EFL Cup tie against Derby before starting against Astana in the Europa League group stage. Having earned £30,000 a week in wages during his four years at Old Trafford, the 39-year-old got £3.12million per appearance.
