Manchester United are facing a backlash from their squad for offering to make Paul Pogba the Premier League's highest-paid player.
Midfielder Pogba is out of contract this summer and has so far refused to commit to United's offer of a new deal worth a whopping £500,000-a-week. United are understood to be willing to offer World Cup winner Pogba a basic salary of £400,000-a-week, with add-ons potentially taking it up to the half-a-million mark.
But the offer is said to have caused fury within the United dressing-room, with Pogba's team-mates angry the club are willing to make him the highest-paid player in the country. United's players do not feel Pogba is worthy of such a massive pay hike, given he plays so infrequently and has no qualms about criticising the club and talking about leaving.
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A United source said there will be mutiny within the dressing-room if Pogba ends up accepting the offer and remaining at Old Trafford, with players demanding the same parity in wages. The source said: “Some of the players think it’s out of order he could be getting twice as much as they’re when he hardly starts a game and talks about leaving all the time.”
Cristiano Ronaldo is United's current highest earner, taking home £450,00-a-week, followed by goalkeeper David De Gea, who is on £375,000-a-week. Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane earn £300,000-a-week, Bruno Fernandes is on £250,000-a-week, with skipper Harry Maguire netting £200,000-a-week.
Pogba, 29, is being courted by Paris St Germain and Real Madrid, with his former club Juventus also showing interest in taking him back as a free agent. All the signs are that Pogba will leave this summer, but his failure to make a decision has left many of his team-mates feeling he may end up accepting United's offer.
Although Pogba would be entitled to a huge signing-on fee if he were to move as a free agent this summer, he is unlikely to command the same wages United are offering him elsewhere. United say decisions on recruitment of new players and retention of existing squad members will be made after the new manager is appointed, with Erik ten Hag the current favourite.
