Gary Neville has taken aim at Manchester United's decision to introduce a ‘Ronaldo rule’ at Old Trafford, with Casemiro seemingly among those already set to break it.
The Red Devils are reportedly intent on introducing a whole-squad rule that will see salaries limited at £200,000 per week in an effort to avoid a culture of jealousy in the dressing room. The decision comes after the disastrous deal to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford, which saw the Portuguese rake in a huge weekly sum before his contract was terminated and he departed for Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr.
The wage cap is a huge change from the stance adopted by former supremo Ed Woodward. Chief executive Richard Arnold and football director John Murtough are spearheading the alteration alongside manager Erik ten Hag.
However, Red Devils icon Neville is not convinced on the new policy, suggesting that it seems somewhat misguided to introduce it whilst the club is up for sale. He also believes it could rule United out of making statement signings.
Taking to Twitter, Neville wrote: “Not sure why any radical new policy is being introduced IF new owners are imminent.” Replying to a fan who suggested that the rule should be introduced regardless of ownership, Neville continued: “Should it? [Manchester] City had it until [Erling] Haaland and others came in!”
“Capping wages is a radical policy,” he added. “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!”
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A further supporter then suggested that the Red Devils could find themselves behind the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid in pursuit of talent, a statement that Neville agreed with. He then enquired exactly how the rule would be introduced with members of the United squad - particularly summer signing Casemiro - earning far more than £200k per week.
He said: “Exactly! Seems a strange policy when you have Casemiro, others on 350/400k for 4 more years in the dressing room!”
It is suggested that the new role could be enforced sooner rather than later, with goalkeeper David de Gea set to be the first to feel its effects. The Spaniard takes home £375,000 per week but sees his contract expire at the end of the campaign.
United are apparently keen to see those wages drop dramatically to strike an extension, but they will allow the former Atletico Madrid shot-stopper to move on, should they not meet his demands. In the meantime, United are set to explore cheaper options in the January transfer market in an effort to save funds, with loan deals only possible at this stage.
