When Jose Mourinho was announced as Manchester United manager, he texted each of his newly acquired players who were competing at Euro 2016. Bastian Schweinsteiger was one of the quickest to reply.
If only the German had the same speed around the pitch.
Schweinsteiger played an increasingly prominent role for Germany during Euro 2016 but he has struggled to maintain the 90-minute box-to-box performances that marked him out as world-class in his 20s.
The midfielder picked up three separate injuries and served a three-game suspension during his first season at Manchester United. He was trusted, for the large part, by Louis van Gaal to play a holding role but it often felt as if his one, two, three and four touches before every pass slowed their tempo significantly.
The 31-year-old will be eager to prove his worth to Mourinho when his short summer holidays is over but his future at the club is reportedly in doubt… if United can spare the cash.
The Sun have been tapping their United source for some gems in recent weeks and the latest includes the potential pay-off to Schweinsteiger.
Signed up with United on a £14m-a-year deal until July 2018, were United to move Schweinsteiger on – with PSG said to be interested – it would cost the club 50% of the remaining salary due.
£14m.
Talks between player, manager and club are said to be ongoing.
Whoever put Schweinsteiger’s contract together should give themselves a raise, if they haven’t already.
