Sir Alex Ferguson signed a new contract with Manchester United in 2010, which ensured that he earned more than any of his players at Old Trafford.
The legendary Scot and Manchester United faced a dilemma in 2010 when star player Wayne Rooney openly questioned the club’s ambition and came close to leaving Old Trafford.
However, Ferguson managed to convince the then 24-year-old forward to sign a new lucrative contract with the club, which made him the highest paid player at Manchester United.
But the Scot also made his feelings about the whole saga known to the Glazer family, the club’s owners, and told them that it was unfair that Rooney was earning more than double the money he was getting at Old Trafford.
He revealed that he and the club’s owners came to an agreement that no player should have a pay package more than Ferguson was earning at Manchester United.
relatedNewsStory
Ferguson wrote in his new book, ‘Leading’: “I told them [Glazer family and then chief executive David Gill] I did not think its fair the Rooney should earn twice what I made.
“Joel Glazer immediately said ‘I totally agree with you but what should we do?’
“It was simple. We just agreed that no player should be paid more than me.”
Rooney is still the club’s highest earner and was made the club captain by Louis van Gaal when he took reins at Old Trafford, ahead of the 2014/15 campaign.
