10 January 2023 , 06:00
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The introduction of a so-called 'Ronaldo rule' at Manchester United stands in stark contrast to Liverpool's own approach to wage structures.
The Red Devils has reportedly brought in a discliplined salary cap for future contracts, in a bid to avoid the mistakes they made in bringing Cristiano Ronaldo back for a second spell. The superstar earned around £500,000 per week before his departure last month.
And United are keen to avoid overpaying in a similar fashion going forwards, as boss Erik ten Hag seeks to overhaul his squad. Chiefs at United have reportedly devised the new strategy in a bid to avoid jealousy becoming rampant in their squad.
According to the Sunday Mail, the new structure will apply to players running out of contract, as well as new signings. The decision is a marked difference from Liverpool's own recent moves.
The Anfield giants have previously had a notoriously strict wage cap, resulting in stars such as Sadio Mane moving on. But when Mohamed Salah appeared set to leave, the Premier League giants ripped up that structure and handed him a £300,000 per week deal.
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That contract makes him the highest-paid player in Liverpool's history and signalled a change of approach. It was a move that was praised by Jamie Carragher, though Salah has struggled to hit his heights of recent seasons, scoring only seven top-flight goals this term.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Is Manchester United's 'Ronaldo rule' a good idea? Comment below.
Liverpool ripped up their wage structure to hand Mohamed Salah a bumper new contract (Naomi Baker/Getty Images)"Maybe money [was the main factor in negotiations]. There is nothing wrong with that. Salah has been as good as anybody in the Premier League or anyone in European football, certainly in his position," Carragher told Sky Sports.
"And he'll feel he deserves to be paid as well as those. And we know the types of numbers other players get at other clubs. Liverpool have never really gone to that level in terms of numbers, certainly under FSG.
"I think that a lot of Liverpool fans respect that model because it has brought a lot of success to the club so they almost accept how they go about things not just with player contracts but also with signing players.
"Now and again when you have someone as special as Salah the rule that you have to have in place you have to certainly bend them, maybe not necessarily break them but you have to maybe go closer to a position that maybe you don't want to."
While Carragher is happy for Liverpool to rip up their established strategy, Ten Hag is clear that United have to move the other way and bring down their astronomical wage bill.
"The club has bought an unimaginable number of players in recent years who have not been good enough. Most purchases have been average - and at United average is not good enough," he recently told VI Magazine.
"United's shirt weighs heavily. Only real personalities, who can perform under great pressure, can play here. We needed personalities. That's why the acquisition of Casemiro was so important.
"Along with Raphael Varane, we now have a second player who has experience of winning titles. We want the best of the best. Any players we bring to Manchester United must meet the highest standard."
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