Man United set wage-cut terms for Casemiro and Maguire in INEOS contract reset

Manchester United have made their position clear on two senior figures. The club want to continue with Casemiro and Harry Maguire if both accept reduced wages aligned with the new INEOS-driven structure. Early conversations have been positive, with performance-based incentives on the table and clarity over squad roles. United view this as a clean, sensible reset - protecting dressing-room balance, improving PSR compliance and freeing room for a younger defensive midfielder in 2025. If no agreement is reached, exits would be explored in an orderly manner. Confidence internally is that at least one agreement lands before the summer window.

This development sits within United's ongoing wage-bill recalibration under INEOS after a season outside the Champions League and a multi-year push to align salaries with performance. Casemiro, one of the club's top earners since arriving from Real Madrid in 2022, has attracted interest from abroad across the last two windows, while Maguire has rebuilt form and status after a strong 2023-24 resurgence. Senior figures want clarity before the late-January to summer planning cycle, with incentives and wage bands brought into line with new policies introduced across the first team.

🚨 BREAKING: Manchester United want to continue with Casemiro only if he agrees to lower his wages - same applies with Harry Maguire and his contract situation at the club. [@FabrizioRomano YT]

@UtdXclusive

Impact Analysis

Strategically, this is exactly the kind of call United had to make. Casemiro, 32 and turning 33 in February, is still an elite organiser in a mid-block, but his reported wage level near the top of the squad has been out of sync with the club's new performance-first framework. By inviting a reduction with clear appearance, minutes and objective-based add-ons, United retain a proven Champions League winner while protecting wage-to-turnover ratios demanded by PSR.

Maguire, now an established starter again, is the easier pathway. His profile - aerial dominance, set-piece threat, leadership - continues to carry value in the Premier League. A revised deal with achievable incentives rewards availability and output without overcommitting guaranteed money. It also signals to the dressing room that form earns security, not just historical status.

Financially, re-tiering two of the bigger earners could open room for a younger defensive midfielder in 2025 and a versatile left-sided defender, areas the recruitment team have tracked for months. It also de-risks any summer pivot if Casemiro receives a strong external proposal. From speaking to people familiar with the process, the mood is pragmatic and professional - the club are giving senior players a fair route to stay while aligning everyone to a consistent pay policy.

Reaction

The fanbase is split, and it’s lively. One camp argues for a respectful transition: keep Casemiro one more year to mentor the next No.6, then phase him out. I saw multiple supporters float names like Carlos Baleba as the ideal understudy, even pairing him with a ball-winner to share the load. Another camp is blunt - if the wages don’t move, the project must. There’s frustration at the idea of premium salaries for declining athletic profiles.

There’s noise around age too. A few claimed Casemiro is 34 in February, which isn’t accurate - he turns 33. Meanwhile, some are adamant Maguire’s turnaround should be rewarded on refreshed terms, citing his consistency and set-piece value this season. Others worry a pay-cut negotiation could unsettle him after he rebuilt confidence.

There’s the usual crossfire about pundits and rival clubs, with some fans comparing media reactions when Liverpool struggle versus United. One sweet aside - a post noting Paul Pogba liking a United-themed photo triggered nostalgia, though most agree the current regime must be colder and more disciplined with contracts. The summary vibe: pragmatic patience for Maguire, cautious respect for Casemiro, and a big push for a younger DM.

Social reactions

If they do this one, I can guarantee this management are so bad

momed_amen (@AmeinEzmail)

Just let him go man sign two players in cm in the summer

Philip (@Philip461174441)

So we are not ready to compete for anything

Arhin Godfred (@ArhinGodfred_9)

Prediction

Most likely scenario - Maguire agrees first. Expect a shorter-term agreement on reduced base pay with clean appearance and performance triggers. He keeps the leadership role he’s earned, United gain flexibility, and the optics are strong for a culture built on form and availability. I’d pencil that in before the summer window opens, giving the recruitment team clarity.

Casemiro is more nuanced. Two credible pathways are on the table. One - he accepts a revised package through 2026 with role clarity and staged incentives tied to minutes, big-game starts and trophies. Two - an amicable split in the summer if a well-structured proposal arrives from abroad, potentially including a modest fee and salary coverage that suits all parties. Given market dynamics, I lean 55-45 toward a revised deal for one more season while United bed in a younger No.6.

Downstream moves flow from those choices. If both stay, United target a progressive ball-carrier who can press and cover space, reducing Casemiro’s workload. If Casemiro departs, the club accelerates for a starter-profile DM. Either way, INEOS’ wage grid holds - and that consistency will shape every negotiation in 2025.

Latest today

• Eberechi Eze and the €70m question: rating the investment so far
• Barcelona line up Harry Kane as Lewandowski successor while Man United circle
• Florentino Pérez points to last season’s injury grind - what it tells us about Real Madrid...
• Real Madrid hits €1.185bn revenue as Bernabéu nears completion, says Florentino Pérez

Conclusion

This is the first-team wage reset in action, not a fire sale. United want to keep their spine if it fits the structure. That’s grown-up squad management. Maguire’s case looks primed for a smart, incentive-rich agreement that rewards what he’s done over the last 18 months without tying the club to old mistakes. Casemiro’s conversation is respectful and honest - the club value his nous, but his deal has to reflect minutes and the physical demands of the league.

I’m told the tone of talks is calm. No ultimatums, just parameters. The upside for United is clear: wage sanity, a happier dressing room, and room to add a mobile, younger midfielder. If the numbers don’t align, exits will be controlled and on United’s terms. That’s the real win - a club deciding its own salary culture and sticking to it.

Bottom line: expect Maguire to land first on adjusted terms, and keep a close eye on Casemiro’s camp. Either outcome, the direction is the same - a clearer, leaner United.