13 December 2023 , 08:32
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Manchester United find themselves in further financial jeopardy after crashing out of Europe in humiliating fashion.
The Red Devils, who contended with Financial Fair Play rules during the summer transfer window, finished rock bottom of their Champions League group containing Bayern Munich, Copenhagen and Galatasaray. That means Erik ten Hag's side won't even be able to play Europa League football come February, marking the first time they've been completely out of Europe by then since 2015.
United's dire 1-0 defeat to Bayern on Tuesday confirmed their exit, although a win wouldn't have been enough anyway due to Copenhagen's victory over Galatasaray. Now only playing domestically for the remainder of the 2023-24 season, Ten Hag and the club hierarchy - which is currently transitioning ahead of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's arrival as a 25 per cent shareholder - won't be able to count on the added funds of post-Christmas European football, with the club's debt recently surpassing the £1billion mark.
Having started off with a sum of £13.3million which is earned by simply being in the Champions League group stage, a team's results also see them receive prize money. But with only one win and one draw, Ten Hag and co were given a measly £3.2m, although they would've been awarded a further sum of £8.25m for narrowly making it into the knockout phase.
Advancing to the quarter-finals is worth a further £9.1m and then it's £10.7m for making it into the semis. The total prize money earned from winning the Champions League - however unlikely in United's case - would've been around £58.6m.
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Going into Tuesday's game, a win would've guaranteed the Red Devils a place in the Europa League play-off round in which they beat Barcelona last season. Each team taking part receives around £430,000 and then a further £1m for making it into the last 16.
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Erik ten Hag has missed out on additional transfer funds (James Baylis - AMA/Getty Images)Reaching the quarter-finals is worth £1.5m, while the semis are valued at £2.4m. As the winners receive an extra £7.4m, lifting the Europa League would've seen United receive a total sum of £13.2m.
A consolation for the Old Trafford faithful is that while Ten Hag wasn't planning to make any major January signings to bolster his squad, the Red Devils won't be forced to sell anyone to make up the lost renevue. Mirror Football understands that despite United being concerned about FFP and being fined over the summer, they're under no pressure to drum up funds.