Seven-figure bonus payments imminent for Manchester City stars despite Champions League exit | OneFootball

Manchester City’s stars are on the verge of bonus payments worth up to a staggering seven-figures and concerning the UEFA Champions League, a report has detailed.

The latest revelations on Manchester City and their European exploits come just days after their crushing quarter-final stage exit to Real Madrid, courtesy of a penalty shoot-out loss at the Etihad Stadium.

A 4-4 aggregate scoreline over two-legs and two impressive performances from the reigning Champions of Europe was not quite enough on Wednesday night, as Antonio Rudiger scored the decisive spot-kick to send Pep Guardiola’s side out of the competition.

But two titles remain up for grabs for last season’s Treble winners, as well as UEFA Champions League qualification for the 2024/25 season, and with the latter comes enormous financial benefits for the Etihad Stadium squad.

That is according to the information of Jack Gaughan, writing in the latest edition of MailSport’s Man City Notebook, who reports that Pep Guardiola’s squad can expect to earn up to seven-figure bonus payments once they secure a top-four spot in the Premier League.

It is detailed that earnings for the ‘less experienced’ of Manchester City’s first-team stars start at around £200,000, with the ‘bigger hitters’ in Pep Guardiola’s roster likely to surpass £1 million.

Additionally, some clauses are also based on appearances and minutes played, according to Jack Gaughan’s report.

Pep Guardiola has previously spoken about the magnitude of a top-four finish in the Premier League, particularly what it means for a footballing institution and their finances, as well as their future hopes of becoming a dominant force in the European game.

Guardiola recently praised Arsenal for their Champions League qualification following an extended period away from the top-level of European football, stating towards the back end of last season, “They won the most important title of the season for the club – to qualify next season for the Champions League.

“Because financially, it is prestigious, new signings. For many reasons it is the most important title, by far, and it is already there. They lost the last game (against Man City) and they are sad, but I am pretty sure they have to be so happy because they make an incredible achievement.”

Qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League would be the 14th successive campaign that Manchester City will be featuring in the tournament, having won the title for the first time at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.