New rules at United: Who will get the bonus?

Manchester United has implemented new regulations regarding player bonuses for Champions League qualification, shifting from an automatic payout to a performance-based system. Since the summer of 2023, players are no longer guaranteed a 25% pay increase simply for the team securing a spot in the prestigious tournament.

Under the revised rules, players must now participate in at least 60% of the total available minutes throughout the previous season to be eligible for the bonus. This change applies to all players who joined or extended their contracts with the club after the rule modification.

Slovenian striker Benjamin Šeško, who played 1643 minutes out of a possible 3420 in the Premier League last season, along with 180 minutes in cup competitions, fell short of the new threshold. His total playing time represented approximately 50% of the available minutes, disqualifying him from the bonus.

In contrast, several teammates did meet the criteria. Marcus Rashford, Andre Onana, and Mason Mount are among the players set to receive the bonus. Rashford, who signed a five-year extension in July 2023, and Mount, who joined the club that summer, both qualified despite not always being starters. Onana also qualified, though he spent part of last season on loan at Turkish club Trabzonspor.