Stefan Borson
Wed 12 March 2025 19:00, UK
Manchester United are facing the prospect of failing to qualify for European football this season following their disappointing campaign.
Ruben Amorim has struggled to turn the Premier League side’s fortunes around since replacing Erik ten Hag as manager in November last year.
Man United currently sit 14th in the top-flight table, 15 points behind fourth-place Chelsea after 28 matches.
There is still a chance they could qualify for the Champions League this season if they can win the Europa League.
United drew 1-1 with Real Sociedad in the first leg of their last-16 tie on 6 March, with the second leg taking place at Old Trafford on Thursday (13 March) for a place in the quarter-finals of the competition.
The Telegraph reported on 3 March the Manchester giants are budgeting for qualifying for the Europa League for the next four years rather than the Champions League.
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Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider United will lose an immediate £10million from their sponsorship deal with Adidas if they fail to qualify for the Champions League this season.
The club’s 10-year deal with the German manufacturer is worth £900million across the lifetime of the contract.
Ruben Amorim, Man United manager
(Credit: Imago)
Man United face Champions League issue after £250m reveal
Borson insisted United will face issues qualifying for the Champions League with a wage bill under £250million as they look to bring down their costs, with their salary expenditure standing at £365million last season.
He told Football Insider: “They will lose at least £10million from the Adidas deal by not being in the Champions League.
“There’s an immediate reduction of £10million.
“I think the Europa League planning is just a budgeting thing where they’re going ‘Look, why don’t we build a cost base and why don’t we restructure the club such that if we are only in the Europa League and earning £25million a year instead of £100million of Uefa prize money, we still make good profits, so how do we build the business to do that? What does that look like?’.
“The issue that they’ve got is that any team that’s ever really done that before and built a cost base that’s commensurate with the Europa League has failed to get in the Champions League.
“It’s really hard to get in the Champions League with a £250million wage bill, but it’s not impossible. Villa have done it. Newcastle have done it. Spurs have done it in the past.
“But it’s really hard and it’s not guaranteed in the way that it’s pretty much guaranteed if you’re spending quite a lot more generally, so that will be United’s big challenge.”
Games 26
Wins 11
Draws 5
Losses 10
Goals (For / Against) 47/ 47
Win Percentage 42.3%
Amorim’s record at Man United (as of 11/03/2025)
Man United to accept £70m Kobbie Mainoo bid
Former Old Trafford chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider United will accept a £70million bid for Kobbie Mainoo in the summer transfer window.
The 19-year-old, who has been linked with Chelsea in recent weeks, is believed to have turned down a new contract after being unhappy with the terms he was offered.
The England international’s potential sale would mark a pure profit for United after he came through the club’s academy.
Chelsea also made a move to sign Alejandro Garnacho in the January transfer window, but he remained at Old Trafford after a deal failed to materialise.
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