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Football was a game of passion, value, and fans. The players gave their sweat and blood for the badge like a true professional. Money was never an issue for the players as they wanted to earn respect more than anything else.
Manchester United are a club built on the love and support of the fans. From the Matt Busby's days to the class of 92 and even till the end of Sir Alex Ferguson's reign, players valued the club over themselves. The Red Devils is a brand, and its market value is beyond imaginable. Year after year, United are gaining more financial power whereas, in the field, the quality of football is degrading.
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Though the performance has been weak lately, the financial power of the board has helped in luring world-class footballers at Old Trafford. Even the players who are at the club for five to six years are demanding a whopping salary raise to extend their contract. Keeping in mind, the money that these footballers are earning here is a look at the top five highest earners at Manchester United.
All the data are taken from the silly season.
#5 Fred - £175,000/week
Fred is a Brazillian international who played for Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine before moving to Manchester United this season. The retirement of Micheal Carrick and the lack of midfield creativity made Jose Mourinho get the services of Fred at Old Trafford.
Fred brings with him a bundle of energy and some Samba flavor to the side. He is a live wire in the midfield and not afraid to make lunging tackles. The Brazilian can provide defense splitting passes as well which he vehemently displayed at Shakhtar.
However, since joining the Red Devils, things didn't turn the way he would have expected. Fred is struggling to get regular game time under the manager who wants him to wait for his opportunity. He is an emerging player, and we hope he gets enough chances to prove his worth at the Theatre of Dreams.
#4 Romelu Lukaku - £200,000/week
Romelu Lukaku started his Premier League career with Chelsea but failed to impress for the Blues. He was loaned out to West Bromwich Albion and Everton respectively with the latter signing him on a permanent five-year deal. Since then, Lukaku has banged in goals season after season for the Toffees spending four years in total at the Goodison Park.
After Zlatan's injury, Manchester United needed a striker who could fill the boots of the Swede and can replicate the famous United No.9's of the past. Though Chelsea was also in the race to sign Romelu back, Mourinho's influence was enough to lure the former Everton forward at Old Trafford at a transfer fee of £75m.
Since then, Lukaku is into his second season with United and in the midst of a tough period in his career. Despite an impressive debut last campaign, he has failed to reach those standards this season. Romelu has looked tired both with and without the ball. He is the only genuine striker United has at the moment which heaps more pressure on the Belgian.
#3 David De Gea - £200,000/week
David is one of the few players who signed when Sir Alex Ferguson was still the manager at Manchester United. The Spaniard's impressive show with Athletico Madrid made him an ideal replacement for the retiring Edwin Van Der Sar at United.
De Gea struggled in his initial days making sloppy errors in his judgment. However, as time elapsed, he has established himself as one of the best players in the club. He could easily be among the top three goalkeepers in the world at the moment.
David has won almost everything, except the Champions League with the Red Devils. He is also the only recipient of Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award on three successive occasions.
However, the recent decline in United's performance and the lack of significant accolades has prompted the Spaniard to consider his future at Manchester United. It's beloved that he wants more salary hike to sign a new contract at the club.
#2 Paul Pogba - £290,000/week
Paul Pogba came through the academy of Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson. However, a lack of first team game time saw the Frenchman leave United for Juventus in Italy. Paul established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world during his four years in Turin winning the Seria A and reaching the Champions League final in the process.
At the time, United was struggling with a lack of creativity in the midfield. The signing of Jose Mourinho ensured an influx of world-class footballers at the club starting with Paul Pogba. He returned to Manchester for his second tenure at the club in a transfer deal which made him the costliest player in the world at that time.
Despite his big-money move, Paul has suffered from the lack of consistency and recently reports emerged of a fallout with the manager. He is made to sit on the bench by the Jose Mourinho in the recent games with the situation worsening between the two every passing day. Manchester United are paying more salary than he deserves which should push him to up the level of his performances for the club.
#1 Alexis Sanchez - £400,000/week
Alexis Sanchez is a world-class footballer who has the experience of playing for the likes of Barcelona and Arsenal before signing for Manchester United in the January window last season. Sanchez was Arsenal's best player winning them many games single-handedly. However, for a player recognized as one of the best in the world, winning trophies is a must.
At 29 years of age, Alexis decided to leave Emirates in search of significant silverware with both the Manchester clubs battling it out to sign the Chilean. Eventually, United with the influence of Jose Mourinho managed to sign the former Arsenal man in a swap deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
However, his performances have not been up to the expectations of the fans with rumors lurking of his unstable situation at United. The lack of form coupled up with his lack of English had made things tough for Alexis to survive at Old Trafford.
