Man Utd contract clause has "upset" Ronaldo as whole squad hit with pay cut

Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly been left "upset" after being forced to accept a pay cut at Manchester United.

The Portuguese has ruffled feathers over recent days having submitted a transfer request to leave the club. His reasons for doing so are wide-ranging and include the side's hesitancy in the transfer market, as well as their failure to qualify for the Champions League at the end of last season.

It is that aforementioned drop into the Europa League that has also seen Ronaldo - as well as the rest of his Man Utd teammates - apparently hit with a considerable pay cut.

According to the Manchester Evening News, each member of the squad has been hit with a 25 per cent cut to their weekly wage as a direct consequence of failing to qualify for the Champions League due to their sixth-placed finish under Ralf Rangnick.

Having penned a £480,000 per week contract when he returned from Juventus last summer, that has now seen Ronaldo's wages fall to £360,000. Sources suggest that has "upset" the five-time Ballon d'Or winner and has contributed to his reasoning to want to leave the club.

It of course remains to be seen whether he will be able to find a club able to stump up the huge wages that he would be demanding should the Red Devils reluctantly agree to a sale between now and deadline day. Chelsea and Bayern Munich immediately emerged as the frontrunners for his services, whilst Barcelona are shock contenders to make a move having held talks with Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes.

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In the meantime, the Portuguese forward is yet to return to the club's Carrington Training Base for pre-season testing. He was expected to be reunited with the squad on Monday but failed to show up due to 'family reasons'.

His absence extended into Tuesday with the club now unclear over when he will return and it remains to see if he will report for the club's pre-season tour of Asia and Australia.

Whilst doubt has emerged over Ronaldo's long-term future at Old Trafford, it appears that the club are closing in on their first two additions of the summer window. Feyenoord defender Tyrell Malacia has undergone a medical and should be announced as a Man Utd player sooner rather than later.

Elsewhere, Christian Eriksen has agreed a deal in principle with the Red Devils and is expected to go through the formalities of a move over the next few days. Frenkie de Jong continues to be linked with a switch to the club but negotiations between Man United and Barcelona are currently at a standstill.

The business is not anticipated to end there though with a forward, as well as a centre-back, both thought to be on Erik ten Hag's shopping list ahead of his first full season in charge.