If Manchester United win the Europa League, it could reportedly cost the club millions.
Manchester United appears to be on the verge of reaching the final in Bilbao, having secured a 3-0 victory against Athletic Club in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final at San Mames last Thursday.
On that occasion, Bruno Fernandes excelled with two goals and has consistently demonstrated remarkable form despite an otherwise disappointing season for United. At 30 years old, Fernandes has recently been rumored to be considering a departure from the club, with journalist Fabrizio Romano confirming that Al Hilal from the Saudi Pro League has a ‘genuine interest’ in the Portuguese international.
Romano shared an update on X on May 5, stating: ‘Al Hilal have genuine interest in Bruno Fernandes as one of their top targets this summer. Manchester United regards Bruno as a vital player, as does Rúben Amorim — no discussions have commenced between the clubs, and there has been no bid or direct approach.
Manchester United is committed to a clear strategy to retain Bruno.’ During a press conference on May 7, United’s head coach Rúben Amorim was questioned about the possibility of his captain leaving.
“I think it’s easy to understand that [there is interest],” said Amorim.
“Not just because of the numbers, but the way he plays, the impact he has during his five years here, he’s a top player. We need the top players.
“He’s a leader, he’s the captain, so he’s really important. It’s normal that there are a lot of clubs that want a player like Bruno, like Garnacho, like others. But we want to keep the best players, and Bruno is clearly one of the top players in the world. So, our idea didn’t change. We want Bruno here.”
How much will Europa League win cost Man Utd?
For United to secure victory in this year’s Europa League, Fernandes must perform at his highest level on Thursday evening and in the final later this month, where they will compete against either Bodo/Glimt or Tottenham Hotspur, provided they overcome Athletic.
Furthermore, should United triumph in the Europa League, they would qualify for the next season’s Champions League, despite currently sitting in 15th place in the Premier League. A victory in the Europa League could impose significant financial implications on the club due to a ‘Champions League qualification bonus’ that was previously eliminated from players’ contracts after their failure to qualify for this year’s tournament.
According to GOAL’s report in April, United’s players experienced a 25 percent reduction in their salaries following their inability to qualify for the Champions League last season. If the bonus is reinstated, which the club has yet to confirm, it would result in financial benefits for United’s players.
Currently, Fernandes earns £300,000 per week, as reported by Capology, which would rise by £75,000 if the 25 percent increase is applied. The club’s total weekly wage bill is estimated at approximately £3,315,750, which would escalate to £4,446,875 with the additional 25 percent increase.
How much will Man Utd earn from Champions League qualification?
ualifying for Europe’s premier club competition would reportedly see the club receive a minimum of £70m in prize money, according BBC Sport.
A breakdown of UEFA’s prize pot breakdown is below:
Qualification = £16m
League phase victory = £1.8m
League phase draw = £600,000
Each place in 36-team table is worth an additional £800,000+
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire explained: “A modest set of results of three wins, three draws and two defeats, and a 10th-place finish, would therefore generate £13m. A perfect set of results in the group stage would earn £22m.
“The prize money is enhanced by Uefa’s ‘value pillar’ linked to a club’s European competition success over the past five years and the amount the domestic broadcaster (Amazon/TNT in the UK) pay for the rights.
“Manchester United are probably about 12th in the Uefa rankings and could therefore expect to earn at least £1m per position out of the 36 teams in the Champions League, so this could be worth another £24m.
“The rewards start to accelerate once a club reaches the knockout stage, with about an extra £20m, for example, for reaching the quarter-finals and £54m for the winners.
“A modest run to the quarter-finals is therefore likely to generate a possible Uefa payout of £73m from prize money alone.”
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